Tailor
Shore / SurfTailor are Perth's most popular surf-fishing target — aggressive schooling predators that hunt baitfish in packs along beaches and rock walls. Best at dawn and dusk on metal slugs or whole pilchards. The annual run peaks Feb–Jun.
Overview
Tailor are Perth's quintessential surf fishing target — aggressive, hard-fighting, and predictable in their annual run. Schools migrate south along the WA coast from late summer, pushing baitfish into the shallows along beaches and rock walls from February through June. They're accessible to anyone who can cast a lure or bait rig into the wash, and they're the fish that gets most Perth anglers hooked on fishing.
How to Catch
Whole pilchards, garfish, mulies (on ganged hooks)
Halco Twisty, Halco Raider, chrome slugs, metal slices
Ganged hook rig with two or three 4/0 hooks for whole pilchards, or a single-hook rig for lure casting. Use a wire trace or heavy mono leader — tailor have razor-sharp teeth.
Cast metals or whole pilchards into the white water along beaches and rock platforms at dawn and dusk. Work metals with a fast retrieve and occasional pause. When you find the school, cast quickly — the bite window can be short. Watch for baitfish spraying out of the water as a sign tailor are feeding.
Dawn and dusk are prime, especially on a rising tide pushing bait against the shore. Overcast days with moderate swell extend the bite window. New moon periods often produce the best runs.
Up to 10kg, commonly 1–3kg
Oct–Jun
Yes — good eating, but only if you treat them right. Bleed and ice tailor the moment you land them; the flesh is oily and turns fast if left in the sun. Best cooked fresh the same day — pan-fry or grill the fillets, or barbecue them whole. Don't bother freezing. Leftovers make superb strip bait for mulloway.
Minimum size: 30cm. Individual bag limit: 8, of which only 2 may be over 50cm. Tailor count within the statewide nearshore/estuarine finfish TOTAL mixed-species daily limit of 16. Always check current DPIRD rules — regulations may change.
Perth Tips
Cottesloe, North Mole, and the beaches south of Fremantle are reliable spots during the run. Carry a headlamp for pre-dawn sessions and a long-nose pliers for unhooking — those teeth are no joke. Scale and gut tailor on the beach if possible.