HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla--When you throw the cast net effectively, it’s called pancaking — a most important skill for catching mullet. Rick Gullet of Gulley’s in Parrish has been doing it most of his life.

“My grandfather got a net and started throwing a net. Then my dad did it. He taught me how to do it. My older brother knows how to do it,” said Gullett. “We’ll never go hungry as long as we have a cast net. You know we always have fish and stuff to eat, so it’s a good thing to have.”

He’s hunting the fish in knee-high water in southern Tampa Bay—off Manatee County’s coast. July through December mullet gain a rich fat, and this is when you must catch them. Gullet eases along the mangroves, working within the rhythms of nature — the tides. Right now it’s too high.

It’s a quick ride through Terra Ceia Bay, and Gullet stops near the mouth of the Manatee River. This is where his deep knowledge of this area’s waters and his persistence pay off.

Gullett nets fish 3 to four at a time. As a fisher who opened a food truck to sell his mullet and other catches, Gullet knows he’ll never get rich. And some days are much easier than others.

“Like yesterday, we caught 120. Getting 20 or 30 a throw, as you can see today — it’s a little different,” Gullet said. “So it’s a challenge, but I love it.”

Gullett hopes the World Smoked Mullet Championship at his food truck Gulley’s in Parrish will offer more than just food and fun — it’s a tribute to the people who live off this land. Saturday, October 22 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Gulley’s in Parrish Free admission, Free parking.