Tailor
Shore / SurfAggressive schooling predator that hunts baitfish in packs along rock walls and beaches. Best targeted at dusk and dawn with metals, lures, or whole pilchards. Perth's most popular sport fish with a summer/autumn peak and fish holding on through winter from the right marks.
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.
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
Good eating when bled and iced immediately. Flesh deteriorates quickly if not handled properly. Best eaten fresh on the day of catch — doesn't freeze well. Tailor also makes excellent strip bait for mulloway and other big predators.
Bag limit: 8 (only 2 fish over 50cm). Minimum size: 30cm. Always check current DPIRD rules — regulations may change.
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.