Species

Thicklip grey mullet

A silvery grey shoaling fish with a thick, warty upper lip that grazes on algae; shy, tenacious when hooked and a challenge for fine tackle.

Chelon labrosus

Photo: jujurenoult, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0, adjusted to 3:2

Spawning: In the Mediterranean in winter, further north in spring (general guide, varies by region)
German Red List: not threatened
Typical method: Fine float fishing in harbours and estuaries
Top bait: Bread flake

Plan a day fishing for Thicklip grey mullet

How to recognise it

Elongated, spindle-shaped body with a head flattened on top
Enlarged, thick upper lip with fine papillae
Dark grey to blue back, silvery grey flanks with 4 to 5 dark lengthwise stripes; two dorsal fins, the front one with hard rays

Easily confused with: Looks like the thinlip grey mullet, which has no enlarged upper lip and no papillae. It differs from the sea bass by its small mouth and the lengthwise stripes.

How to catch it

Methods: Fine float fishing in harbours and estuaries, Surface fishing with floating bread, Light bottom fishing

Baits: Bread flake, Bread paste, Small ragworm

In summer, when the shoals stay near the surface in harbours, lagoons and estuaries; in winter they hardly feed.

Habitat and food

Northeast Atlantic from Norway via the North Sea and Great Britain and the western and southern Baltic Sea to West Africa, plus the Mediterranean. A true shoaling fish of coastal waters that also enters lagoons and estuaries; in summer near the surface, in winter in deeper layers (Wikipedia).

Grazes on algal growth and invertebrates near the bottom and hardly feeds in winter (Wikipedia); FishBase lists diatoms, algae, small invertebrates and detritus.

Size and age

Up to 80 cm, age up to 9 years (Wikipedia). FishBase: max. 75 cm (standard length), common length 32 cm, max. published weight 4.5 kg, max. reported age 25 years.

Protection and rules

Conservation status: German Red List (marine fish 2025): not threatened, population moderately common. IUCN: Near Threatened (2022).

Thicklip grey mullet: closed season and minimum size by German state

Lower Saxonyminimum size 40 cm (coast)
Schleswig-Holsteinminimum size 40 cm (coast)

From the official state fisheries regulations, retrieved 2026-10-11. All rules by state

Check the rules

Closed seasons and minimum sizes are set by each German state and can be stricter for single waters. All rules by state, with the legal source

In the kitchen

A popular food fish (Wikipedia); best grilled or pan-fried as fresh as possible.

Sources (5)

Last checked 2026-10-13. Found a mistake? Write to [email protected].

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