Tailor (Pomatomus saltatrix) is a globally distributed pelagic predator which is targeted by both recreational and commercial fisheries. Despite being the target of heavy recreational fishing in Eastern Australia, knowledge of the growth and reproductive cycles in this region is limited to mostly anecdotal stories. Regular samples from the commercial and recreational fisheries in NSW have provided insights into the population structure and dynamics of the tailor population. Ageing based upon otoliths shows comparable growth rates to other global stocks such as that off the east coast of America, although the age structure appears to be truncated in NSW, with fish older than 5 years old extremely rare. Using macroscopic staging of gonads and a gonadosomadic index, a previously unknown spawning period and location has been identified in Northern NSW in late summer. These findings reveal that the tailor population in eastern Australia is more complex than previously thought and has implications for the management of this ecologically and economically important pelagic species.