Triangle Mullet: An Extraordinary Fish with Unique Adaptations
– Juvenile striped mullet and white mullet are often misidentified because they look similar.
– Regulations for striped mullet in North Carolina also apply to white mullet.
– Both species are found in North Carolina coastal and estuarine waters and are commonly used as bait.
– Adult striped mullet are abundant, while adult white mullet are rare.
– Adult striped mullet have horizontal stripes, while they are absent on juveniles, making identification challenging.
– Anglers commonly use a gold spot on the opercle of white mullet, but it fades quickly and can be confused with a similar spot on striped mullet.
– An accurate way to distinguish the two species is by counting anal fin rays—striped mullet have eight, while white mullet have nine.
– White mullet have scales extending onto the second dorsal fin and anal fin, which striped mullet lack.
– These scales are hard to see without magnification and can be easily damaged.