I know the Bluefish ( Tailor ) I use to catch on the east coast of the USA migrate up and down the coast from florida all the way up to Martha's Vinyard. The larger fish >45cm move offshore to deeper water in the winter. I think because the east coast fish go up and down the coast and return is why they are alot bigger on the east coast of the USA. Most fish around 5kilo's is the norm.

I don't think the tailor on our metro coast come back when they leave hence why they are generally always small. The odd resident may grow to a good size.

I remember reading once that when the tailor get large, they settle down and tend to stay in one location. Like humans, this is usually north of perth in warmer climates, lol. Seems nearly all the big ones are up north a bit. Unless theres bigger ones somewhere else, then it suggests that thats where they stay?

I think they move around a bit when they are smaller though.

Why does everthing migrate AROUND perth.

wen they are breeding they move out to the continental shelf i have no idea y  maybe coz of all the bait fish out there.

in kalbarri there are lots of really small like 2-6cm ones in the river. so maybe they like get born up there then start heading down south while they are small and hide in like the estuarys and things(maybe to many predetors up north for the lil ones) and when they get a bit bigger they head back up north to breed again? not to sure just my theory

i seen massive schools of little ones 10 - 25cm in hillaries

i have seen some 6kg+ fish in albany

 I can recall a few to many years back now when I was a kid we would head down to the inner harbour in Bunbury. We would get down under the Warf and there was hundreds of Tailor about, no bigger than 5cm swimming. We could catch them on a baited hook but not catch them with the hook they just would not let go of the bait. Then we would use them for fresh bait for bigger fish. Makes you think that breading must have taken place down that way as well. But now a little older and wiser of course we would ever not allow this to take place today.

I think they may also breed up in the Swan and then head out to the beaches.
Maybe Caroline, or one of fisheries researchers may have a definative answer.

I actually think its a good thing that we dont know where they end up, i know if i knew where to get 3kg+ tailor the place would be fished more often than not

if I find out (Lol).

i think a lot of the big ones migrate to peoples dinner plates, that is one interesting question but its amazing what 2 guys will talk about while fishing

Colin

Tailor Research is still ongoing
We do recruitment surveys in Feb-March each year. Not many tailor were tagged this year. There was an article published in Western Angler with some good information.

http://www.westernangler.com.au/default.asp?action=article&ID=153

Hi Colin
I had a chat to someone i know who has been working on Tailor recruitment research for longer than i have and he said that there is quite a fair bit of info from other Australian States and from America, but not a lot on W.A. breeding stock or aggregation areas.

The NSW's stock when 35-40cm all head to Frazer Island and aggregate in the back beaches surf to spawn, the young is then carried down south by the Sydney current, a lot going into Sydney harbour as juveniles to grow.

Our W.A. Stocks seem to be slightly different, as to date, the Fisheries have not as yet discovered W.A. tailor's aggregation areas.There is doubt if tailor spawn in the rivers or estuaries?

There are three possibilities:

(1) Is that they aggregate at an area at Carnarvon or Shark Bay and the eggs and larvae is carried south on the Leeuwin Current, arriving at beaches as far south as Bunbury early summer, as one year olds.?

(2) There might be a stock just east of Augusta near the Donnelley River used as a aggregation area? These juveniles move both east and north. The northern movement is assisted by the Cape Current, which gathers pace late spring and early summer, pushing up even higher than Perth waters, thus carrying juveniles up the W.A. coast and beaches

(3) Some scientist at Fisheries are of the theory, they might aggregate out at sea, around the outer reefs 3-4 ks out and juveniles move in close to shore in early summer.?

It is known that large numbers of one year old or younger juveniles start to arrive off the W.A. coast and beaches around December and a few later months. These would no doubt be the young of the spawning from the past year.
A huge tagging research is really needed to gain the information needed to find the true answer, but this would need a big budget.

It is doubtful if any Tailor spawn in the rivers or estuaries?

Carolyn
Member Offshore Angling Club of WA (Beach Branch)

I knew you would have some good info.Thanks mate.