Tailor Fishing Gear

Tailor can be found around many beaches and estuaries across Australia. Headlands, rockwalls, beach gutters and bait holding structures in estuaries are all likely hide outs. They can be caught year-round at times but are more prevalent throughout the cooler months.

Lure fishing is a very effective and exciting technique for tailor. They are a very aggressive feeder and will happily crunch a lure if given the chance. Baitfish profile metal spinners, minnows, poppers and soft plastics will all attract strikes. Tailor respond well to a faster, erratic retrieve which often excites multiple fish creating competition for the lure. Chemically sharpened trebles and singles will help prevent tailor throwing hooks during the fight.

Tailor are not fussy when bait fishing, but, if targeting them specifically, whole baits like pilchards and garfish or flesh baits like bonito or mullet will produce the best catches. Live baiting herring, mullet and garfish will also work and usually produces larger fish. Dead baits are best fished on gang hooks to avoid bite offs, while live baits can be rigged on light wire.

Tailor can grow to in excess of 5kg and are strong acrobatic fighters, so tackle needs to be well and truly up to the task. When chasing tailor off the beach and rocks, surf combo's 10-12ft and 6-10kg, with either a spinning reel or alvey spooled with 15-30lb line would be the outfit of choice. In the estuaries where landing fish is not an issue, tailor can be caught on light spin outfits as they will rarely run for structure.