School of striped mullet in Pacific waters of Mexico

15 October 2026

Striped mullet, also called flathead grey mullet, (Mugil cephalus) are coastal fish with a worldwide distribution. Adult mullet spend the summer in freshwater rivers and estuaries, then migrate to warm saltwater spawning grounds in the fall.

Historical biogeography of the Mugil cephalus species complex and its rapid global colonization (map from Science Direct)

Because they’re good food for predators mullet travel in tight schools as they make their way down the coast.

On the Atlantic coast of Florida the schools attract tarpon, snook and sharks who cruise by looking for a likely meal. We don’t realize this is happening until mullet jump out of the water to escape.

Mullet evading an underwater danger (photo from Wikimedia)

Osprey and pelicans see the tightly packed schools from the air and come in for a catch.

This attracts curious people and fishermen who want to catch the predatory fish.

Everything gets calmer after the mullet have gone.