If you’ve spent any time on the water around Nokomis, you’ve almost certainly heard it: a sharp splash, followed by another, then another. A silver flash arcs out of the water and lands on its side with a slap. That’s a mullet. And once you start noticing them, you’ll realize they’re everywhere.
These hardworking little fish are one of the most common (and most entertaining) residents of our shallow bays, mangrove creeks, and grass flats. While they may not get the same attention as dolphins or manatees, mullet play a huge role in keeping our local waters healthy—and their constant jumping is one of the best shows on the Gulf Coast.
What Exactly Are Mullet?
The fish you’re most likely to see around here is the striped mullet (Mugil cephalus), also called the black mullet or jumping mullet. They have a blunt head, two separate dorsal fins, and a silvery body that often shows faint horizontal stripes. They travel in schools of all sizes—from a few dozen fish to massive schools that stretch for hundreds of yards.
You’ll find them year-round in our estuaries, especially in the calm, shallow water near mangroves and over muddy or sandy bottoms. They’re perfectly built for this environment.
What Do Mullet Eat?
Mullet are the ultimate clean-up crew of the estuary.
Unlike predatory fish that chase bait, adult mullet feed mostly on the bottom. They swim along the seafloor with their mouths open, sucking up a mixture of mud, sand, detritus (decaying plant matter), algae, and microscopic organisms. Their specialized gizzard-like stomach and long digestive tract grind and process this material, extracting the nutrients.
This feeding style makes them incredibly important to the ecosystem. By constantly recycling organic matter, mullet help keep the water and bottom sediments healthy. In simple terms: a bay full of mullet is usually a bay in good shape.
Young mullet start out eating tiny zooplankton and gradually switch to the detritus-and-algae diet as they grow.
Why Do Mullet Jump?
This is the question every guide gets asked, and the honest answer is: scientists still aren’t 100% sure. There are several solid theories, and the truth is probably a mix of them.
1. They’re grabbing a breath of air The strongest scientific evidence points to oxygen. Mullet have a special organ near the back of their throat (the pharyngobranchial organ) that can hold a bubble of air. When dissolved oxygen in the water gets low—common in warm, shallow, nutrient-rich Florida estuaries—they jump or roll at the surface to gulp air. Studies have shown that mullet jump more often when oxygen levels drop. That classic sideways splash you see is often a fish topping off its oxygen supply.
2. They’re escaping predators When a whole school erupts from the water at once in a chaotic frenzy, something is usually chasing them—snook, redfish, tarpon, jack crevalle, or even dolphins. Jumping is a classic baitfish escape tactic.
3. They may be shaking off parasites Some researchers believe the hard impact of landing helps dislodge external parasites or irritants.
4. Communication or orientation Mullet often live in slightly murky or tannin-stained water. The loud splash of a jump may help schoolmates keep track of one another, especially in low visibility.
Whatever the exact reason on any given day, the result is the same: a lively, jumping silver show that makes a paddle through the mangroves feel alive.
What You’ll Notice on a Kayak Tour
Mullet are one of the most reliable wildlife sightings on our waters. You’re likely to see:
- Individual fish launching three feet into the air and landing with a slap
- Small groups jumping one after another
- Large schools creating a constant rain of splashes across a flat or creek
They tend to be more active in the early morning and late afternoon, and you’ll often hear them before you see them. Because they feed on the bottom and travel in schools, they’re usually not bothered by quiet kayaks—though a loud paddle splash will send them scattering.
A Sign of Healthy Water
Just like spotting a small shark or a manatee, seeing plenty of jumping mullet is a good sign. It means the seagrass is producing food, the detritus cycle is working, and the estuary is productive enough to support a big population of these important fish.
So next time you’re out with us and a mullet launches itself into the air a few feet from your kayak, take a second to appreciate it. That little acrobat is busy cleaning the bottom, feeding the food chain, and putting on one of the Gulf Coast’s simplest, most reliable shows.
Ready to go watch the mullet put on a show? Book a morning paddle and come explore the quiet waters of Nokomis with us.