Two long, whisker-like barbels hang from the chin of the red mullet. These barbels are covered in taste buds. They allow the fish to taste the sediment as it probes for buried worms and crustaceans. A fish that tastes the seabed. A fish that finds its dinner by whisking the sand. A design that raises questions. The answers are in the mud. The Maori name Aahuruhuru reflects its habit of hurrying or bustling across the seafloor. Red mullet are busy fish. They are constantly on the move. They probe and taste. They bustle from one spot to the next. They feed most actively during the day. This is when the light allows them to see what they are doing. Pinkish-red colour and distinctive barbels make them easy to recognise. A fish that does not stop moving. The flesh is delicate and sweet. It is highly prized by those who catch it. Red mullet are not targeted commercially in New Zealand. But recreational fishers catch them from wharves and beaches. They are a popular target for kids fishing off the local pier. This is because red mullet are curious. They are not too picky about bait. A fish that makes a child's day. Localised declines may occur in heavily fished harbours near large cities. Marine reserves provide refuge in some areas. No formal stock assessment exists. But populations are considered stable across most of the range. The bustling, whiskered fish of the harbour. It tastes the sand. It hurries across the bottom. It provides a sweet little fillet for those who know where to look. The kid drops a line off the wharf. The red mullet grabs the bait. The kid screams with joy. The mullet does not know it made someone happy. It just wanted the worm. In Māori tradition, Aahuruhuru was a fish of the harbours and estuaries. Its bustling, hurried movements across the sand were well known to fishers. The barbels were sometimes compared to the whiskers of certain birds. Or to the tendrils of climbing plants. This comparison highlights their sensory function. Mana whenua observe these harbour dwellers closely.