The age composition, natural mortality and growth rates of garfish were investigated in Baird Bay, which has been closed to commercial and recreational netting for a number of years. Sampling was by beach seine and gill nets of various mesh sizes over four sampling periods in 1984-85. Otoliths were used to estimate Von Bertalanffy growth parameters. The instantaneous rates of natural mortality were estimated by 2 methods: the slope of the catch curves determined from the age composition data (0.53 for males and 0.36 for females) and using the estimated growth parameters, mean environmental temperature and Pauly's (1981) equation (0.57 for males and 0.56 for females). The results are discussed in relation to fishing strategies for this species and the use of the population in Baird Bay to model the garfish fishery in other parts of State waters.