MIAMI (MCT) — The fall mullet run along the southeast coast of Florida has sputtered along in fits and starts amid unseasonably warm-water temperatures so far. But as I found out last weekend in Sebastian, plenty of tarpon were lurking in nearshore waters, happy to eat appetizers while awaiting the arrival of the main course — gigantic, black clouds of mullet moving like a shadow south along the beach.

On Sept. 29, marauding silver kings ignored slow-trolled finger mullet that passed right by their snouts as they herded, pounced and showered the big bait schools. But a day later, with no huge bait pods yet darkening the surface, the silver mullet that captain Tom Pierce and I drifted from his skiff just south of Sebastian Inlet was the only treat in town.