Species
Tailor
Pomatomus saltatrix
Also known as bluefish
Tier 2Eating6/10light tackleVulnerableNSWVICQLDSAWA
100 waypoints30–50 cm (max 90 cm) typical
Regulations
NSW30 cm min · bag 20QLD35 cm min · bag 20WA30 cm min · bag 8
| State | Size | Bag |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | 30 cm min | 20 |
| QLD | 35 cm min | 20 |
| WA | 30 cm min | 8 |
Closed: Fraser Coast QLD: bag/poss limit changes during winter run | ||
Regulations change. Always verify with the relevant state fisheries authority before fishing.
Overview: about tailor
Aggressive surf and headland predator found from southern QLD around to WA. Targeted with metal slugs, gang-hooked pilchards and stickbaits in beach gutters, off rocks and around inshore structure. Best around dawn and dusk — wire or heavy fluoro saves on bite-offs.
Biology: Tailor size, diet & habitat
- Habitat
- Beach, Estuary, Inshore, Reef
- Typical size
- 30–50 cm (max 90 cm)
- Weight
- 0.5–2 kg (max 9 kg)
- Depth range
- 0–30 m
- Diet
- pilchards, mullet, baitfish
- Most active
- crepuscular
- Global range
- Cosmopolitan temperate-subtropical (Pomatomus saltatrix; bluefish elsewhere)
How to target: Tailor angling strategies
Generally fished with light tackle — match gear to the conditions and the size of fish you expect.
- ganged pilchards on a wire trace in beach gutters at dawn
- metal slugs cast into surf and around headland washes
- stickbaits and poppers over shallow rocky reef at first light
- trolling small bibbed minnows around inshore headlands
Best season: when to catch tailor in Australia
- NSW
- Apr-Sep (beaches)
- QLD
- May-Sep (Fraser Island gutter run)
- WA
- year-round
Seasons shift with water temperature and local conditions, so check recent reports before a trip.
Safety & handling
Razor teeth — wire trace required. Bleed and ice immediately for the table.
Conservation
IUCN: Vulnerable
IUCN Vulnerable globally (bluefish). AU stocks managed under state agencies.
Recent community catches: anglers who caught tailor
No tailor catches logged yet. Log one and you'll be recognised here.
Where to catch: tailor fishing spots in Australia
Western Australia40
- Ammo Jetty (Woodman Point)Jetty · WA-32.14°
- Becher PointBeach · WA-32.36°
- Binningup BeachBeach · WA-33.15°
- Bremer Bay Back BeachBeach · WA-34.41°
- Bunbury Cut (The Plug)Estuary · WA-33.33°
- Busselton JettyJetty · WA-33.64°
- Cape AridHeadland · WA-33.97°
- Cape Le Grand BeachBeach · WA-33.96°
- Cape Peron (Rockingham)Headland · WA-32.27°
- Cape RicheHeadland · WA-34.60°
- City Beach GroyneBreakwall · WA-31.93°
- Cottesloe ReefReef · WA-31.99°
- Dawesville CutEstuary · WA-32.63°
- Emu PointBreakwall · WA-34.99°
- Floreat Beach GroyneBreakwall · WA-31.94°
- Fremantle North MoleBreakwall · WA-32.06°
- Fremantle South MoleBreakwall · WA-32.06°
- Garden Island Careening BayBay · WA-32.22°
- Geraldton ForeshoreShoreline · WA-28.78°
- Heirisson IslandShoreline · WA-31.96°
- Hillarys Boat HarbourBreakwall · WA-31.82°
- Israelite BayBeach · WA-33.61°
- Kalbarri / Murchison River MouthRiver Mouth · WA-27.71°
- Leighton BeachBeach · WA-32.02°
- Mindarie Keys MarinaBreakwall · WA-31.69°
- Mosman Bay (Swan River)Shoreline · WA-32.01°
- Murchison River Mouth (Chinaman's Beach)River Mouth · WA-27.71°
- North Cottesloe ReefReef · WA-31.99°
- Old Dunsborough BeachBeach · WA-33.62°
- Penguin Island ChannelShoal · WA-32.31°
- Preston BeachBeach · WA-32.88°
- Swanbourne BeachBeach · WA-31.97°
- Thomas RiverRiver Mouth · WA-33.85°
- Trigg Island ReefReef · WA-31.87°
- Two Peoples BayBay · WA-34.97°
- Two Rocks MarinaBoat Ramp · WA-31.49°
- West Beach (Esperance)Beach · WA-33.87°
- Whitfords Beach ReefReef · WA-31.79°
- Wylie BayBeach · WA-33.86°
- Yallingup ReefReef · WA-33.64°
New South Wales32
- Bass Point - ShellharbourHeadland · NSW-34.60°
- Black Head, Hallidays PointHeadland · NSW-32.07°
- Black RockRock Platform · NSW-36.45°
- Bombo HeadlandHeadland · NSW-34.65°
- Box HeadHeadland · NSW-33.53°
- Camden Haven BarRiver Mouth · NSW-31.65°
- Camel RockRock Platform · NSW-36.35°
- Coal Loader, WavertonWharf · NSW-33.84°
- Crookhaven HeadsBreakwall · NSW-34.91°
- Currarong - Beecroft PeninsulaRock Platform · NSW-35.02°
- Diamond BayRock Platform · NSW-33.87°
- Diamond HeadHeadland · NSW-31.74°
- Evans Head BarRiver Mouth · NSW-29.12°
- Forster-Tuncurry BreakwallBreakwall · NSW-32.17°
- Hat HeadHeadland · NSW-31.05°
- Hawkesbury River - BrooklynRiver · NSW-33.55°
- Iluka BreakwallBreakwall · NSW-29.41°
- Lake MacquarieLagoon · NSW-33.08°
- Macleay River EntranceRiver Mouth · NSW-30.88°
- Narooma BreakwallBreakwall · NSW-36.22°
- Newcastle HarbourEstuary · NSW-32.93°
- Norah HeadHeadland · NSW-33.28°
- North Avoca HeadlandHeadland · NSW-33.46°
- Port Kembla BreakwaterBreakwall · NSW-34.47°
- Port Macquarie BreakwaterBreakwall · NSW-31.43°
- Sandon BluffHeadland · NSW-29.68°
- Swansea ChannelEstuary · NSW-33.09°
- Tathra WharfWharf · NSW-36.73°
- The EntranceRiver Mouth · NSW-33.34°
- Tweed BarRiver Mouth · NSW-28.17°
- Ulladulla HarbourBreakwall · NSW-35.36°
- Wollongong HarbourBreakwall · NSW-34.42°
Queensland19
- 8 mileReef · QLD-26.62°
- Bribie Surf Gutters (Woorim)Beach · QLD-27.08°
- Currumbin AlleyEstuary · QLD-28.14°
- Double Island PointHeadland · QLD-25.93°
- Elliott HeadsRiver Mouth · QLD-24.93°
- Jumpinpin BarRiver Mouth · QLD-27.73°
- Manly Harbour MoleBreakwall · QLD-27.45°
- Ngkala Rocks GutterBeach · QLD-24.97°
- Noosa North ShoreBeach · QLD-26.33°
- North Stradbroke Main Beach GuttersBeach · QLD-27.48°
- Rainbow Beach GuttersBeach · QLD-25.90°
- SS Maheno WreckWreck · QLD-25.27°
- Scottish Prince WreckWreck · QLD-27.93°
- Snapper RocksRock Platform · QLD-28.16°
- Southport SeawayRiver Mouth · QLD-27.94°
- Tangalooma WrecksWreck · QLD-27.18°
- Tweed Sand Bypass Outlet (Letitia)Shoreline · QLD-28.17°
- Waddy Point GutterBeach · QLD-24.90°
- Western Rocks/YellowpatchReef · QLD-27.02°
Victoria8
South Australia1
More information: tailor references & sources
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