Golden grey mullet

{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{Use British English|date=April 2024}} {{Speciesbox | image = Galupe (Chelon auratus), Parque natural de la Arrábida, Portugal, 2020-07-23, DD 19.jpg | status = NT | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name = IUCN>{{cite iucn |author=Ford, M. |year=2024 |title=''Chelon auratus'' |volume=2024 |article-number=e.T135579A21910530 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T135579A21910530.en |access-date=16 August 2025}}</ref> | taxon = Chelon auratus | authority = ([[Antoine Risso|Risso]], 1810) | synonyms = {{species list |Chelon aurata |(Risso, 1810) |Liza aurata |(Risso, 1810) |Liza auratus |(Risso, 1810) |Mugil auratus |Risso, 1810 |Mugil breviceps |[[Achille Valenciennes|Valenciennes]], 1836 |Mugil cryptocheilos |Valenciennes, 1836 |Mugil cryptochilus |Valenciennes, 1836 |Mugil lotreganus |Nardo, 1847 |Mugil maderensis |Lowe, 1839 |Mugil octoradiatus |[[Albert Günther|Günther]], 1861 |Planiliza aurata |(Risso, 1810)}} | synonyms_ref = <ref>{{cite WoRMS |author= Bailly, Nicolas|year=2017|title=''Chelon auratus'' (Risso, 1810)|id=1044127|access-date=26 April 2024}}</ref> }}

The '''golden grey mullet''' ('''''Chelon auratus''''') is a species of [[euryhaline]] [[Actinopterygii|ray-finned fish]] belonging to the [[Family (taxonomy)|family]] [[Mullet (fish)|Mugilidae]], the mullets or grey mullets. This species is found in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean and the [[Mediterranean basin|Mediterranean Sea Basin]]. The golden grey mullet is a target for both commercial and recreational fisheries.

==Description== It has hydrodynamic, very elegant elongated, more or less cylindrical body, with strong tail-fin. It has dark grey back that transit into silver white toward the belly with several grey horizontal stripes. Golden spot is present in gill covers.<ref name = UKFish/>

Its maximum length is around {{convert|60|cm|in}} and weight around {{convert|1.5|kg|lboz}}, but commonly it is much smaller fish with average specimen having {{convert|30|cm|in}} in length.<ref name = BSF>{{cite web | url = http://britishseafishing.co.uk/mullet-species/ | title = Mullet Species | date = 14 September 2012 | access-date = 27 October 2018 | publisher = britishseafishing.co.uk}}</ref>

Reproduction takes place in the sea, from July to November.<ref name = UKFish>{{cite web | url = http://www.uk-fish.info/pages/goldengreymullet.html | title = Golden Grey Mullet | access-date = 27 October 2018 | publisher = www.uk-fish.info}}</ref>

==Habitat== [[File:Liza aurata Sardinia.JPG|thumb|left|''Chelon auratus'' feeding in shallows]] It is present in Eastern Atlantic from [[Scotland]] to [[Cape Verde|Cape verde]], in the Mediterranean and Black Sea and in coastal waters from southern Norway and Sweden (but not Baltic) to Morocco. It is rare off coasts of Mauritania. It has been introduced into the Caspian Sea.<ref name = IUCN/>

Golden grey mullet is a [[neritic]] species, usually inshore, entering lagoons, ports and estuaries, but rarely moves into freshwater. It feeds on small benthic organisms, detritus and occasionally insects and plankton.<ref name = FishBase>{{FishBase|Chelon|auratus|month=June|year=2018}}</ref>

It ranges from shallows to depths of about {{convert|20|m|ft|-1}}, but it is most common between {{convert|1-10|m|ft|-1}}. It prefers sandy bottoms covered with various vegetation and smaller rocks where it can find its food and protection from predators like larger [[European eel|eels]], [[European sea bass]], [[Dentex dentex|Common dentex]] and similar predatory species.

==Fishing== In many countries there is a minimum allowed fish length for golden grey mullet of {{convert|20|cm|in}}. In some estuaries it is main target of both commercial fishery and recreational fishermen.

Commercially it is caught using special nets for mullets that allows catching specimen that jump over first net line.<ref name = Cornwall>{{cite web | url = http://www.cornwallgoodseafoodguide.org.uk/fishing-methods/beach-seine-netting.php | title = Beach Seine Netting | access-date = 27 October 2018| publisher = Cornwall Seafood Guide}}</ref> The average annual catch of golden grey mullet in Croatian waters is {{convert|50|tonnes|ton}}.<ref name = FAO>{{cite web | url = http://www.faoadriamed.org/pdf/publications/TD15/WP_DulcicB.pdf | title = Review of Croatian selected scientific literature on species mostly exploited by the national small-scale fisheries | access-date = 27 October 2018 | publisher = FAO | author1 = Dulčić J. | author2 = Soldo A. | author3 = Jardas I. | name-list-style = amp}}</ref> In sport and recreational fishing, it is often caught on rod and reel, using rigs with floats and hooks baited with paste made out of flour, cheese and fish guts, but sometimes will accept bread, cheese and similar baits.<ref name = BSF/>

==Cuisine== Meat is white, soft and very tender. Taste depends on fishing location. Golden grey mullet can be pan fried, especially smaller fish. Barbequed with some olive oil, lemon juice and parsley is often considered a delicacy.<ref name = Howto>{{cite web | url = http://www.seafishinghowto.com/marine-species/fish/golden-grey-mullet-liza-aurata.html | title = Golden Grey Mullet - ''Liza aurata'' | access-date = 27 October 2018 | publisher = www.seafishinghowto.com | archive-date = 27 October 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181027143148/http://www.seafishinghowto.com/marine-species/fish/golden-grey-mullet-liza-aurata.html }}</ref>

Also, it can be used as part of mixed fish stew.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category-inline|Liza aurata|''Liza aurata''}}

[[Category:Fish of the Mediterranean Sea]] [[Category:Fish of the Black Sea]] [[Category:Fish of Europe]] [[Category:Fish of West Africa]] [[Category:Chelon|Golden grey mullet]] [[Category:Fish described in 1810]] [[Category:Taxa named by Antoine Risso]]