Species Portrait: Striped Mullet
2/19/2019 11:30:27 AM
By Matt Roberts
Put in an order for bacon down along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, and one might need further clarification on what is being requested.
Striped mullet, or “Biloxi Bacon,” as this fish is popularly known, has been pleasing palates since at least the Civil War. Legend has it that, faced with food supplies dwindling from a Union Army blockade at Ship Island, resourceful Biloxi residents found sustenance in bountiful schools of striped mullet that were “cruising the coast.” Today, foodie and coastal living forums abound with recipes for this Southern favorite, which has nothing to do with pork.
A curious sort might wonder what else is known about striped mullet aside from its table-fare legacy. It is an iridescent fish, silvery in color, with black dots arranged horizontally along its sides that form stripes when viewed collectively. As with many fish, coloration is darker on the upper body and lighter nearer the belly. This might be a camouflage mechanism, confusing the eyes of predators whether that predator is looking up toward the illuminated surface of the water or down toward the darker bottom. Striped mullet reach a maximum size of about 24 inches over a lifespan averaging four to five years.
A member of the six-species, marine-oriented mullet family, the striped mullet is unique in its penchant for travel. This fish spawns in salty waters, but it is infused with a strong sense of wanderlust at some point. Records housed at MDWFP’s Mississippi Museum of Natural Science place the fish upstream in the state as far as the Strong River in Simpson County. Striped mullet occur as far north as Cairo, Ill., on the Mississippi River.
Once striped mullet reach adulthood (2-3 years of age), they will make the trek back to offshore areas to spawn, if not trapped in a freshwater environment. Spawning occurs over open water and near the surface. Semi-buoyant eggs hatch in the water column, and once hatched, larvae begin to head for near-shore environs and beyond.
Striped mullet spend their time in fresh-water feeding and growing. Diet varies according to body size. Larval individuals consume primarily animal prey, including mosquito larvae, small crustaceans, and insects. With growth, they consume less animal material. Mid-sized individuals graze exposed surfaces for algae, diatoms, bacteria, and decaying plant detritus. Larger adults (4.3 inches or more) prefer to delve into bottom substrates and filter from it nutritious particles.
Not only do humans enjoy eating striped mullet, but the fish also serves as an essential food source for marine and estuarine predators, such as redfish and spotted seatrout. This fact makes them popular as bait with recreational anglers along the Gulf Coast. Their role as a prey item and efficacy as bait in freshwater is less well established. A variety of means including cast nets, trammel nets, and beach seines are used to take striped mullet. Anglers recreationally catch striped mullet using spin fishing, bait casting, or fly-fishing equipment. Whether seeking “Biloxi Bacon” for the dinner plate or as bait, remember to check local regulations for which capture methods are legal.
Matt Roberts, Ph.D., is Research Coordinator at MDWFP’s Mississippi Museum of Natural Science.
