Swansboro Mullet Festival (New Bern, Brices Creek: school, food, swimming)

[BarbE]

Will be in the Swanboro area in Oct. Any suggestions for parking and vendors to see at the festival. Understand parking is limited in the town.Thanks BarbE

[Nebat]

I know nothing of this festival, but assume it's about the fish. When I saw the title the first thing I pictured was a town full of bad hair!

[dsobotta]

Originally Posted by BarbE

Will be in the Swanboro area in Oct. Any suggestions for parking and vendors to see at the festival. Understand parking is limited in the town.Thanks BarbE

We usually go the last day for an hour or two. Unless you get there early or do that, parking is a challenge.

Here are pictures from a recent festival.

[BarbE]

Thank you for your info on parking. Your suggestion will be taken.
BarbE

[Retirein11]

Do people eat mullets? We are new residents of Brices Creek in New Bern and one of our biggest joys is watching the mullets jump out of the water. Often several at a time will jump several yards like little silver torpedos. Its our own flying circus! Free entertainment is good! So how do they taste?

[Bill Hitchcock]

Jumping mullet is very much a local taste. It's "strong". A great way to eat'em is to halve a mullet, clean out the insides and place it on the grill, scale side down! Grilled mullet-Yum!

The row is highly prized both commercially and for food (Mix it with your scrambled eggs!)
Jumping mullet, particularly the "finger" mullet (Juveniles) are most sought after this time of year for usage as bait for flounder (primarily), trout and drum.

Don't however confuse a jumping mullet with a sea mullet. Sea mullets are extremely good to eat and would be found favorable by just about anyone who likes sea food!
Bill

[coffeebean330]

Originally Posted by Nebat

I know nothing of this festival, but assume it's about the fish. When I saw the title the first thing I pictured was a town full of bad hair!

I did too. I was a little...repulsed.

[Retirein11]

Thanks for the info Bill. I assume that people have to net the jumping mullets. Those rascals are way to frisky to catch with a hook.

[Bill Hitchcock]

Actually-There is a way to catch jumping mullet on hook & line with dough balls.
But you are correct-The recreational guys cast net for them. The commercial guys usually "wrap" a school with a gill net. It's a visual thing-See the school and encircle them as oppossed to setting the net. If you seee a skiff type boat with a tower-That's a mullet boat!
Here's the "fun" when cast netting for the mullet. If you see them-They can see you and act accordingly by swimming away!

Bill

[dadsdiesel]

Originally Posted by Nebat

I know nothing of this festival, but assume it's about the fish. When I saw the title the first thing I pictured was a town full of bad hair!

X2!!!

Ahhh... I'm just another yankee (actually Red Sox fan) movin down to aggravate y'all