Tie-at-home extras · Mullet and garfish

Controller float rig

A weighted float with the line running through it, followed by a long, light trace. The bait drifts naturally just under the surface.

Mainline 8–10lbController float 10–20gweighted, line runs throughBead + size 12 swivelTrace 5–6lb, 1.5–3mfluoro, sinks slowlySize 10–8 hookbread flake or fish strip
Targets
Mullet, garfish, mackerel, bass
Where
Harbours, piers and sea walls on calm days

What you need

Mainline
8–10lb mono
Float
Controller or bubble float, 10–20g
Swivel
Size 12, with a bead above it
Trace
5–6lb fluoro, 1.5–3m
Hook
Size 10–8
Bait
Bread flake for mullet, fish strip for garfish

Build it

  1. Thread the controller float onto the mainline.
  2. Add a bead and tie on the swivel.
  3. Tie a long, light trace to the swivel and finish with a small hook.
  4. Cast beyond the fish and draw the bait back into the feeding zone.
On the beach

Feed mashed bread or a little mashed fish to bring mullet up. A long, light trace and a small hook matter more than anything else.

Knots for this rig are in Knots. Line strengths, hook sizes and weights are starting points: scale them to your tackle, the ground and the tide. Diagrams are schematic and not to scale.