The back is olive-green, and silver, usually with a yellow tinge, on the belly. As its common name suggests the eyes are a distinctive bright yellow.

They can be found in estuaries often shoaling near the surface, but rarely enter freshwater.

Yellow-eyed mullet are omnivores they feed on benthic detritus, algae and small invertebrates, including plankton and eggs of other species.

They breed in coastal waters during summer and autumn and can release up to 680,000 eggs per fish. They may live up to seven years and are mature after 2-4 years. Females grow faster and get larger than males (170-175mm cf 145-150mm). Mullet are very susceptable to red tide organisms
Catch limit is included in combined daily limit of 30 finfish.

Paulin, C., Roberts, C., 1992, Rockpool Fishes of New Zealand. Museum of New Zealand, Te PapaTongarewa. Raupō Pocket dictionary of modern Maori Furlani et al.,2007. Otoliths of Comon Australian Temperate Fish; A Photographic Guide. CSIRO publishing, Collingwood, Victoria