The last month has seen the annual migration of tailor working their way along the coast between the Tweed coast and Fraser Island. Although the chopper tailor have been feeding in good numbers

on and off proving anglers with plenty of good sport. The larger green backs are playing hard to get, meaning that only those keen anglers that put in the time have been producing the prize winning fish. If your wanting to join those anglers with a prize winning catch that will make your mates green with envy than follow my helpful tips below.

Keys to success include:

Find a good deep gutter with an entry and exit point and plenty of white water where possible.

Have the fresh bait possible eg. Fresh mullet or tailor flesh, freshly frozen pilchards, gar and bonito fillets.

Have sharp hooks, buy good sharp hooks and resharpen used hooks for your tailor rigs.

Heavy mono leader is better than wire as the bait can move more freely, just make sure you use at least 75lb or more.

Once hooked keep plenty of pressure on the fish, any slack line will allow them to throw the hooks. This doesn't mean to skull drag the fish, just take your time, let the fish run when needed, but keep pressure on the line at all times.

Fishing over night is the best, tailor love dawn and dusk, but they also feed readily on the last of the making tide as the gutters fill out.

Fishing outfit to the job:

12-13'6” beach rod with a medium action that is required for throwing big baits. 700 size alvey or similar sized spinning reel with 20-30lb mono or braided line.

For hooks we use two 7/0 mustad 4200 hooks ganged together for the strip bait or 3 ganged together for whole baits.

With the westerly's blowing over the weekend it will ideal conditions for getting on the beach and throwing a bait in for the chance at a solid green back tailor. Just remember the colder the weather conditions the better for tailor. If you persevere with proven techniques you could be the angler bragging on the channel 7 fishing report with a big tailor.