Thick Lipped Grey Mullet

Description:

Also known locally as Harbour Mullet. This is a large species of mullet with the largest individual here well over 40cm. large specimens can grow up to 75cm. Typically a green/grey fish with up to 7 dark horizontal stripes running along its sides with no apparent lateral line. Two small dorsal fins, the rear one being directly over the anal fin and a deeply forked tail. The eye is pale and yellowish on close inspection. The lips are quite prominent and as the name suggests, quite thick.

Habitat:

Found in Guernsey in the Channel Islands at St Sampson's harbour at mid tide. Mostly loafing at the surface although younger fish were feeding on the sea floor and moving through the water column. The fist two images show a large adult, the other images are of younger smaller fish. This species is generally a shallow water species often found near the coast in river estuaries and harbours. Rarely found deeper than 10 meters depth.

Notes:

There are 3 species of Grey Mullet found in these waters. The Thin Lipped is the most similar but are generally a much smaller fish with lighter colouration and less prominent stripping on the sides as well as other small differences.