White Mullet
White mullet (Mugil curema) are a coastal staple along Brazil's Atlantic seaboard, turning up in estuaries, river mouths, and nearshore waters from the northeast to the south. In São Paulo state they support documented gillnet and fish-trap fisheries.
They share the water with the more celebrated tainha (Mugil liza), and the two are often caught together, though white mullet tend to run smaller and favor slightly saltier water.
Scientific Name: Mugil curema
Also known as tainha-branca, parati-branco, silver mullet
- Silvery-white flanks with a bluish-gray back; lacks the bold dark horizontal stripes that mark the striped mullet (Mugil cephalus).
- Stocky, torpedo-shaped body with two well-separated dorsal fins; no lateral line visible along the sides.
- A thick, translucent adipose eyelid covers much of the eye — a reliable field mark shared by mullets but prominent in this species.
- Commonly 25–35 cm in Brazilian coastal catches; larger individuals approaching 40 cm are taken in gillnet hauls.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to Brazil's Atlantic coast, recorded from the northeast (Paraíba state, around Cabedelo) south through São Paulo and into Santa Catarina.
- A euryhaline species — moves freely between full saltwater, estuaries, and the lower reaches of coastal rivers, though it tends to stay in higher-salinity water than Mugil liza.
- Mangrove edges, tidal creeks, shallow bays, and nearshore surf zones are its core habitat; juveniles use estuaries as nursery grounds before moving offshore.
- Documented in the coastal fisheries of São Paulo state, where it is taken alongside other mullet species in lagoons and estuarine channels.
Key Locations
- São Paulo state coast — documented in estuarine and lagoonal fisheries; subject of stock assessment research in the region.
- Cabedelo, Paraíba — northeastern Brazil; recorded in scientific collections and coastal fisheries in this area.
- Santa Catarina coast — white mullet share the nearshore and estuarine habitat with the larger Mugil liza that drives the famous Florianópolis mullet season.
Specific Spots
- Mangrove channel edges at tide changes — mullet follow the current in and out, feeding on the organic film stirred up by moving water.
- Shallow sandy flats and muddy estuarine shallows where algae and detritus accumulate; look for fish tailing or rolling on the surface.
- Pier pilings and jetty bases where algae grow on hard structure — white mullet graze these surfaces and concentrate in the shadows.
- River mouths and tidal creek confluences, especially where freshwater mixes with salt and nutrient-rich sediment settles out.
White Mullet FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for White Mullet?
Bread dough, algae paste, or fine corn meal paste on a small hook, soft, plant-based baits that match the organic matter mullet naturally graze on in estuaries.
When is the best time to fish for White Mullet?
Coastal migrations intensify in the cooler months (roughly May–July) as schools move along the southern Brazilian coast, this is when large concentrations appear near shore in Santa Catarina and São Paulo.
How do you catch White Mullet?
Most Brazilian anglers target white mullet from shore or small boats using cast nets in shallow estuaries and river mouths, or with light float rigs baited with bread paste or algae near mangrove edges and pier structure.
What do White Mullet eat?
Feeds almost entirely on algae, detritus, and fine organic matter filtered from bottom sediment, not a predatory fish. This makes conventional lure fishing largely ineffective; the approach is to present bait that mimics what they're already grazing on.
Where do White Mullet live?
Native to Brazil's Atlantic coast, recorded from the northeast (Paraíba state, around Cabedelo) south through São Paulo and into Santa Catarina.
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