According to the classic book by the late super-angler Ray Cannon, How to Fish the Pacific Coast, Sunset Books, 1967, the Pacific mullet is a bottom feeder that sifts the sand for food, so the bait must be on the bottom. He recommends a #10 hook still- baited with a "dough ball" made of flour, cotton and banana. This is strange enough, but he suggests trying to add garlic to the mix. Yum.

Good luck, and don't eat the leftovers.