Mullet
Mullets are distributed throughout the world, occupying temperate or tropical coastal waters, with some species also living in fresh water. It is a fish widely used in human consumption: for example, since the Roman Empire it has been part of the Mediterranean-European diet. In Florianópolis, the mullet fishing period extends from May to July and during this period people's daily lives change a lot. On the beaches, fishermen keep watch, waiting for the right moment to go to sea and surfers focus on the waves on beaches open for surfing. In restaurants the menu includes special dishes based on this fresh and delicious fish and in homes you only hear about fried mullet, mullet roe, scaled mullet and so on.
Having heard so much about mullet, people who have adopted the region or who come to visit the destination during mullet season always have one question in mind: Where can I see the mullet haul? Today, artisanal mullet fishing, although with a considerable decrease, is seen on the coast of Santa Catarina, mainly in the capital, with emphasis on Barra da Lagoa beach where, along with the activity, there is the preservation of the cultural identity it carries. To encourage the work of fishermen, who use typical canoes, a municipal decree prohibits the practice of sports such as sailing and surfing on the region's beaches, only allowing swimmers and boats that respect the minimum distance from the surf and shores.
