When is the best time of year to catch tailor in Perth?

March through May is the prime autumn window around Perth — the water's still warm, schools push in shallow, and the bite is at its most aggressive. Within a session, dawn and dusk are the standout times, with the hour either side of a tide change the pick.

What's the best bait or lure for tailor off Perth beaches and moles?

Whole pilchards (mulies) on ganged hooks under a float are the classic Perth tailor bait. For lures, throw metal slugs, surface stickbaits and small soft plastics — work them fast through gutters and whitewater at first and last light. Tailor have teeth that slice through light line, so run some bite protection — many use a short single-strand wire trace, though heavy 40-60lb mono works for the ganged-mulie rig above.

Where are the best tailor spots in Perth?

North Mole is the most reliable, with South Mole a quieter alternative when it's crowded. Cottesloe gives explosive shallow-water surface action, while Trigg and Scarborough are solid beach options where you walk and cover ground to find feeding schools.

What's the size and bag limit for tailor in WA?

Tailor are a nearshore/estuarine species with their own minimum size and daily bag, counted within the statewide nearshore mixed bag of 16. Limits can change, so confirm the current minimum length and bag at DPIRD before you keep a feed.

Are tailor good to eat?

Yes, but they don't keep well — tailor are best eaten very fresh. Bleed and ice them the moment they're landed, fillet the same day, and cook them within a day or two. Left in the esky too long the flesh goes soft and oily.

The Best Tailor Spots in Perth (March-May)

Tailor fishing in Perth is one of those pursuits that never gets old. You’ve got explosive surface strikes, strong runs, and fish that’ll test your gear — all within striking distance of the city. March through May is prime season for tailor along our coastline, when they’re at their most aggressive and schools are pushing in shallow.

If you’ve never targeted tailor before, they’re worth understanding. They move fast, they hit hard, and they’re everywhere once they show up. The key is finding where they’re feeding and timing it right.

The Fremantle Moles: Reliable but Crowded

The two harbour walls — North Mole and South Mole — are Perth’s most dependable tailor structure, and in autumn they’re where most of the metro greenback action happens. The rock, the deep water hard against it and the harbour current all stack baitfish, and tailor are ambush feeders that love every bit of that. North Mole pulls the crowds and the fish; South Mole runs quieter and can fish fresher when the northern wall is shoulder-to-shoulder. Either way the windows are the same — low light dawn and dusk, the hour either side of a tide change.

For a proper wall-by-wall breakdown of which mole to pick on the day, the cast positions and the conditions that favour each, see North Mole vs South Mole. This piece leans the other way — toward the beach and groyne marks that get overlooked while everyone’s queuing on the rocks.

Cottesloe: Shallow and Explosive

Cottesloe is a different game. You’re fishing shallower water, but the payoff is genuinely exciting surface action. Tailor come right up into the gutters and shallow banks, especially on bigger tides. Early morning light and the hour either side of low tide are your best windows.

This is where you throw surface lures and watch them blow up on your offering. The strikes here are some of the best surface fishing you’ll get in Perth. It’s also more accessible if you’re not equipped for offshore marks.

Trigg and Scarborough: Point and Beach Fishing

Trigg and Scarborough are both solid tailor territory during the season. These spots rely more on movement—walk the beach, cover ground, and keep your eyes open for activity. Tailor often push in with the tide and set up in specific gutters.

Scarborough’s advantage is accessibility and the range of depths you can fish. You can work the shallower areas near shore or cast to deeper channels. Trigg offers good structure and less foot traffic than some of the more famous beaches.

Timing and Technique

Tailor are most active around dawn and dusk, when light levels drop and baitfish movement increases. Overcast days during the middle of the season can be equally productive. You’re looking for conditions where tailor are hunting aggressively—slightly rough water, active baitfish schools, and moments of tide change.

Bring appropriate gear. A light-to-medium rod works well, and you’ll want a good drag because tailor take line when they hook up. Live bait is deadly when you can get it, but surface lures and small soft plastics will get the job done.

Why March to May Matters

By March, tailor have settled into predictable patterns for the autumn months. The water’s still warm enough for consistent behaviour, and schools are in before winter cools things down. February can be inconsistent, but by March the bite typically becomes reliable.

This is also when fewer recreational fishers are focused on tailor—peak time for most people is summer—so you might have some marks to yourself.

Tailor fishing teaches you something important about Perth’s fishery: consistency comes from understanding what the fish are doing and reading the conditions. Get out there, pick a mark, and learn how the tailor feed in each spot. You’ll find your favourites quickly.

Check conditions for any of these spots on BiteCompass — wind, swell, and tides for Perth fishing spots, so you can pick the right arvo before you load the car.