Grey Mullet

Kanae, Hopuhopu, Kanae raukura

Mugil cephalus

Also known as Mullet, flathead mullet, sea mullet, striped mullet

Saltwater

Saltwater

Grey mullet (kanae) is a thick, torpedo-shaped schooling fish of shallow North Island harbours, estuaries and mangroves, especially from Northland to the Bay of Plenty. The key feature is a thick, fleshy eyelid covering most of the eye. Mostly netted rather than caught on a line, it has oily flesh that is especially good smoked.

Eating: Good (2 of 3)Oily, pinkish-grey flesh that is especially good smoked; the roe is a delicacy.
Where you catch it: From the shore (1 of 3)Lives in shallow harbours and estuaries and is mostly taken by set net or seine.
Fight: Solid (2 of 3)Hard to hook, but anglers rate the fight on light line as strong.

How to identify grey mullet

A thick, torpedo-shaped fish with a broad head and blunt snout. The back is olive-grey and the sides and belly silvery grey to white. There are two widely separated dorsal fins; the first is tall with four obvious spines. The scales are large and come off easily. The key feature is a thick, fleshy eyelid that covers most of the eye, leaving an oval vertical slit over the pupil. Yellow-eyed mullet lack this eyelid and have a bright yellow eye.

Often confused with

Yellow-eyed MulletAldrichetta forsteriGrey mullet has a thick fleshy eyelid and no yellow eye, and grows much larger; yellow-eyed mullet has a bright yellow eye and no eyelid.

Size and daily limits

Daily limitNo species limitCounts towards the combined finfish limit (20–30 a day). A shared limit applies in Fiordland.Limits for each area

Grey mullet: minimum size and daily limit by MPI area
Area	Min. size	Daily limit
Auckland and Kermadec area	None	No species limit (combined 20 a day)
Central area	None	No species limit (combined 20 a day)
Challenger area	None	No species limit (combined 20 a day)
Kaikōura area	None	No species limit (combined 30 a day)
South-East area	None	No species limit (combined 30 a day)
Fiordland area (Fiordland Marine Area)	None	Varies, see note No species limit: counts towards Fiordland's 'any other finfish' limit of 10 a day, or 4 inside the Fiords.
Southland area	None	No species limit (combined 30 a day)

Within combined finfish daily limit.

Checked 22 October 2026 · Source: MPI. Rules change, so check the NZ Fishing Rules app before you keep a fish.

Where it lives in New Zealand

Grey mullet are found worldwide in warm coastal waters, and New Zealand is the southern edge of their range. Here they are mostly found around the North Island, especially Northland, Auckland, the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, and reach Cook Strait only in summer. They school in shallow muddy harbours, mangroves and estuaries and travel far up rivers, reaching Karapiro Dam on the Waikato, but return to sea to spawn. They feed on algae and detritus sifted from the mud.

How to catch it

Most grey mullet are caught in set nets and seine nets in harbours and estuaries. Because they feed on algae and detritus, they are hard to catch on rod and line. Anglers who try use light line, small hooks and bread or flour dough, with bread as berley. Check regional set net rules before netting.

From the boat ramp

We gathered tips and advice from real Kiwi anglers on catching and using grey mullet.

Fresh mullet is a strong bait for snapper, gurnard and kahawai from the beach. Its leathery skin keeps a strip on the hook through a big cast and a west coast swell.
Cut it into small, tidy triangles or strips and hook them once through the skin. Neat baits cast further and don't spin the trace.
Buying it for bait? Fresh local mullet from a fish shop or an Asian supermarket beats imported frozen packs. Get whole fish, scale them yourself, and keep the heads and guts for berley.
Freezing your own? Chill the fish in an ice slurry first, then wrap each one or vacuum pack it, so it stays firm on the hook.
For eating, smoking is the classic, but mullet from muddy rivers and inlets can taste of the mud.

Eating

Grey mullet has medium to firm, pinkish-grey flesh with a high oil content. It is especially good smoked, and can also be baked, poached, steamed or cooked in casseroles. The roe is considered a delicacy. Grey mullet has long been an important food for Māori, especially in Northland and the Waikato.

Recipes

Lemongrass and Ginger Steamed Fish Parcels (Seafood New Zealand)

Good to know

Managed under the Quota Management System. Both sexes mature at about 3 years, at around 33 cm (males) and 35 cm (females). Females can release up to a million eggs in a spawning event, and spawning in the north runs from November to February. In fished areas they live to about 8 years and weigh about 1 kg; in unfished areas they can live to 19 years and weigh more than 4 kg.

Questions

Is grey mullet good eating?

Yes, especially smoked. Grey mullet has medium to firm, pinkish-grey flesh with a high oil content. It can also be baked, poached, steamed or cooked in casseroles, and the roe is considered a delicacy. It has long been an important food for Māori, especially in Northland and the Waikato.

How do you catch grey mullet?

Mostly with set nets and seine nets in harbours and estuaries. Grey mullet feed on algae and detritus, so they are hard to catch on rod and line. Anglers who try use light line, small hooks and bread or flour dough, with bread as berley. Check regional set net rules before netting.

What is the difference between grey mullet and yellow-eyed mullet?

The eye. Grey mullet has a thick, fleshy eyelid covering most of the eye and grows much larger. Yellow-eyed mullet has a bright yellow eye and no fleshy eyelid. Grey mullet are mainly found around the North Island and reach Cook Strait only in summer.

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