If you want to know the best lures for catching big Mulloway, you have to stop thinking like everyone else on social media. Most fishos are obsessed with catching “schoolies” in the daytime, but the real monsters—the 30, 40, and 50lb trophies—require a different approach. In this guide, I’m stepping away from the stock-standard methods to show you how to use specific lures in ways you’ve probably never seen before.
1. The Heavyweight Paddle Tail: Night Surf Tactics
When we talk about the best lures for catching big Mulloway, a 6-inch paddle tail plastic is usually at the top of the list. However, I don’t use these for just casting in river channels. I take these big plastics to the beach gutters at night.
- The Setup: Use a 6-inch body with a heavy 3/8 to 1/2 oz jig head and a stout 6/0 or 8/0 hook.
- The Method: Bounce these through surf gutters under the cover of darkness. The vibration of a large paddle tail in the wash is a dinner bell for a big Jewfish patrolling the shore.
2. Suspending Jerkbaits: The 1-Meter Flat Secret
A relatively new way to find success with the best lures for catching big Mulloway involves fishing shallow sand flats at night.
Between the New Moon and the Full Moon, big Jews move onto the flats in as little as one meter of water to feed on whiting and baitfish. A suspending jerkbait is the ultimate tool here because it stays in the “strike zone” during the pause.
- The Trick: Rip the lure hard twice to get it dancing, then give it a long, dead pause. Since the lure is suspending, it won’t float to the surface or sink into the weed—it just sits there waiting to be smashed.
3. Fat-Bodied Hardbodies: The Surf Slow Roll
If you’re fishing the surf and need a lure with a big profile, look for a fat-bodied shallow runner with a deep rattle.
- The Action: These lures have a massive, slow “thumping” roll that mimics a wounded fish.
- The Timing: Work the high tide changes in the gutters. You don’t need a massive cast; the fish are often right at your feet. Use a slow retrieve with occasional twitches to keep the lure moving just above the bottom.
4. The RMG Barrel Lure: Sandbar Rolling
The RMG (Rob Gaden) lures are built for Barra, but they are secretly some of the best lures for catching big Mullowayon the flats.
- Color Choice: Go for the “Bleeding Mullet” or standard Mullet patterns.
- Technique: This is a “Slow Roll” lure. You don’t need to twitch it. Just a slow, steady wind over the sandbars at night. The fat body creates a pressure wave that Jewfish can sense through their lateral line even in pitch-black water.
5. Big Prawn Imitations: The Bridge Walker
Bridges are Mulloway magnets because of the light and structure. While most guys cast out, the old-school way is to “walk” the lure.
- The Prawn Method: Use a large, realistic prawn imitation. Drop it straight down next to the bridge pylons.
- The Walk: Instead of winding, hold your rod out and walk slowly along the bridge. Give the lure a sharp twitch to make it dart up like a fleeing prawn, then let it float back down naturally.
6. The DIY “Octopus” Skirt: The Ultimate Old School Secret
This is the “Number 6” secret I promised. It’s a method I was taught as a kid in Victoria, and it still works today because no one does it!
- The Rig: A standard 80lb sliding sinker rig (snailed hooks) with a 6-8 inch pink or pink/white trolling skirt slid over the top.
- The Logic: When you twitch this rig vertically off a bridge or pier, the skirt flares out like an octopus or squid.
- The Result: To a lazy, big Jewfish, a pink fluttering octopus is an easy meal. It’s the simplest and cheapest “lure” you can make, and I guarantee the fish in your local river haven’t seen it.
Mastering the Moon and Tides for Big Mulloway
Even the best lures for catching big Mulloway won’t work if your timing is off. Focus your efforts on the tide changes when the current is slowing down. Mulloway are lazy predators; they don’t want to fight a screaming current to eat.
For the most accurate tide data to plan your next “Lure Session,” check the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) before you head out.
Summary: Your Mulloway Lure Checklist
- Surf: Big paddle tails or fat-bodied hardbodies at night.
- Flats: Suspending jerkbaits or RMG barrels in 1m of water.
- Bridges: Vertical jigging big prawns or the “Octopus” skirt rig.
- Stealth: No lights, no noise, and no “schoolie” gear.
More Mulloway Fishing Guides
Read the full mulloway fishing guide
How to Catch Mulloway: 5 Expert Secrets to Stop Failing at the Pipe
7 Expert Tips on How to Catch Jewfish Without Losing Your Gear