Striped Mullet
Mugil cephalus
How to tell it
Blunt head, faint stripes, jumps for no reason.
Rules for
Every state
| State | Size | Bag | Season | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No size limit | No limit; Oct 24 - Dec 31: 25 per person from shoreline or 25 per boat | Open year-roundAL MRD 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Atlantic) | No size limit | 50 per person (all mullet species combined) | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Florida (Gulf) | No size limit | 50 per person (all mullet species combined) | Open year-roundFWC 2026 · checked | Open |
| Louisiana | No size limit | 100 lbs per person daily | Open year-roundLDWF 2026 · checked | Open |
| Mississippi | No size limit | No bag limit | Open year-roundMS DMR 2026 · checked | Open |
| North Carolina | No size limit | 100/day (striped and white mullet combined); vessel max 400 | Open year-roundNC DMF 2026 · checked | Open |
| Texas | No size limit (over 12 in may not be taken or possessed on a boat Oct 1 – Jan 31) | No bag limit | Open year-roundTPWD 2026 · checked | Open |
Not specifically regulated in Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia: each state’s rule for unlisted species applies there (on its page).
State records
| State | Weight | When, where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 2 lb 15.2 oz | 2021 | Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23 |
| Georgia | 9 lb 3 oz | 1994 | GA DNR CRD Saltwater Records · checked 2026-08-23 · GA keeps men's/women's records; heavier taken as overall |
| Texas | 10.38 lb | 2009 · Upper Laguna Madre | TPWD State Records (Saltwater, Rod & Reel) · checked 2026-08-23 |
On the table
Good smoked or fried; fall roe prized.
In the app
Point the camera at a striped mullet and the name appears before you take the picture, with these rules for the water you’re standing in. No signal needed, and every catch goes in the log.
Get the appQuestions anglers ask about striped mullet
How many striped mullet can you keep?
Florida (Atlantic): 50 per person (all mullet species combined); Florida (Gulf): 50 per person (all mullet species combined); Louisiana: 100 lbs per person daily; North Carolina: 100/day (striped and white mullet combined); vessel max 400.
What is the record striped mullet?
10.38 lb in Texas (2009), Upper Laguna Madre. Other states’ records are in the table.