Fisheries Queensland scientist Dr Lenore Litherland said tailor-focused fishing surveys were now entering their second decade of operation, making it one of the longest running monitoring pro-grams in the state.

"These surveys rely heavily on information from the recreational and commercial fishing sectors, as well as seafood wholesalers and retailers, through the donation of fish frame samples," Dr Litherland said.

"The tailor fishery in Queensland is important socially and economically for both the commercial and recreational sectors."

Dr Litherland said that at this time of year, scientists from Fisheries Queensland would be sampling commercially caught tailor from ocean beaches and estuaries between Bundaberg and the Queensland/NSW border.

"Recreational fishers should also look out for scientific staff conducting roving surveys at popular recreational fishing locations between the Gold Coast and Fraser Island over the coming months. Fisheries Queensland scientists will be at Fraser Island from August 8-14; August 29 to September 4; and September 27 to October 3."

Dr Litherland said recreational and commercial fishers can assist the monitoring program by letting scientists measure their catch.

"In addition, we are recruiting volunteers for our Keen Angler Program. Frames of recreationally caught tailor donated by anglers are used by our scientists for length and age information," he said.

"This biological information is used to identify any changes in the age and length structure of the tailor stock through time. Age and length characteristics are essential for assessing the status of an exploited fish stock. From previous surveys we know that between 2007 and 2009, the length of tailor most commonly retained by both recreational and commercial fishers was between 34 and 39cm."

Dr Litherland said these fish would be about two years old and would only just be reaching maturity. A new size limit of 35cm for tailor came into effect on March 1.

"By having a minimum legal size of 35cm, we can increase the prop-ortion of mature tailor that are able to spawn before being captured."