TAILOR a.k.a. Skipjack, Choppers

Tailor are hard-fighting, predatorial fish renowned for their razor-sharp teeth. These powerful shearing teeth not only serve them well in regular feeding frenzies but also in breaking off the line when hooked, so tough gear is essential.

Physical Description: Tailor have elongated, compressed bodies with small scales. The lower body is silver and the upper body is dark green. Tailor have large mouths with powerful, sharp teeth used to cut and slice prey.

Size: Tailor can grow to 10kg but are usually between 1-2kg. There is a minimum legal size of 30cm for Tailor.

Habitat: Tailor are preodimantly an oceanic species, but they can be found in estuaries, lakes, bays, headlands and surf. Tailor can basically be found wherever baitfish congregate near deep water. If you spot choppy, churning water and seabirds wheeling and diving you should find Tailor. Tailor prefer early morning and late afternoon, so these would be the best times to hunt for a few Tailor.

Hint! Winter is a great time for Tailor fishing as they often move up and down the coast in the colder months. Also, a fail-safe way to hone in on these powerful predators is to simply look for groups of fishermen gathering along the beach.

How to Catch:
Bait - Tailor will accept baits of horse Mackerel, Western Australia pilchards, sea garfish, and fresh strips of slimy Mackerel and mullet. The best lures to use in order to catch Tailor would have to be surface poppers, as Tailor love these and will strike with spectacular and explosive power. You could also try minnows, chrome spoons and leadhead jigs.
Rod and Reel - Fishing for Tailor in bays and estuaries requires a medium to fast taper boat rod with a sidecast reel or eggbeater reel. Fishing off the beach requires a surf rod and sidecast reel however a good quality spinning reel can also be used.
Line and Tackle - Line should be 5-7kg, with a heavy monotrace of 10-15kg. Hooks should be 4/0 to 5/0 ganged in flights of 3 to 4.