Making The Most Of A DUD Rock Fishing Spot!

KZbin and social media are full of wonderful fishing sessions at magical locations in perfect conditions, but as we all know, reality can often fall well short of our dreams! In this gritty, honest, down-to-earth episode, Steve 'Starlo' Starling takes you to a sub-standard rock fishing location in less-than-ideal conditions and does his very best to eke out a win, while passing on a heap of valuable tips in the process... all in the cause of keeping it 'real'!
If you love this video and the channel, please consider shouting Starlo a beer (or a coffee!) to help him produce lots MORE great KZbin content for your viewing pleasure! Simply go to: www.buymeacoffee.com/starlo
Thanks... and cheers!
00:00 Intro
01:01 Reading the rocks
01:25 Berley mix
01:47 Let's go fishing!
04:50 Dealing with snags
13:36 A change of location

[@theanarchistangler]

Absolutley refreshing to watch a video where it is a person NOT bloke yodelling and pulling in fish after fish, as if the rest of us shouldn't bother getting out and having a fish because we aren't emulating them. Being in the natural environment, soaking it up, keeping the brain active, and the fish are the cherry on top .....

[@StarloGetsReel]

So true! Thanks for kind words.

[@shanewarmington2680]

The most authentic fishing vid I think Ive ever seen, it will give hope to many knowing those days are universal and not to beat themselves up, thanks Starlo for keepin it reel.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thanks so much Shane! I really appreciate your positive feedback. I hope you keep watching my channel.

[@TranceManiac4life]

Thank you for an interesting video.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@JonathanMark-sf5tm]

Always a challenge around structure like that Starlo. Patience is the key I always say.

[@StarloGetsReel]

For sure.

[@user-jb2pg5bk5c]

I love your cool, calm approach to making a video, no nonsense and bullsh!t, just a great educational approach regardless of fish caught or not. It's not all about catching fish but the fact that you are out there trying and living the moment. Thank you.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thank you so much for those kind words!

[@mark-ingtimetillendtimes6260]

Excellent to hear the thought processes of somebody fishing a somewhat unfamiliar spot. Learn't a lot about how to approach such a situation, and how you analyse it. 🤫

[@StarloGetsReel]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MrComfyAustralia]

loving your vids, good for the newbie

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thank you! 👍

[@Spectrecontrol]

Those rocks look tricky but some great water there

[@StarloGetsReel]

For sure. 👍

[@vladimircharous8945]

Keep it going Sterlo! Love the video! top notch tip for the burly

[@StarloGetsReel]

@@vladimircharous8945 cheers.

[@Kronik24971]

Nice video Starlo, I'm eagerly awaiting my fishbites, keen to try them in Perth metro beaches and marinas :)

[@StarloGetsReel]

Cheers! Let us know how you go with the Fishbites.

[@jamesyu9731]

Nice video Starlo, I reckon if you go there in the morning in high tide you can get decent Drummers and breams...

[@StarloGetsReel]

Absolutely!

[@justinadams5159]

Starlo, love yr Everyman approach. You really have given me a pick up, with my fishing when I was going through the doldrums. Going out, beating my head against a wall in my fishing. Just wanted to let you know there’s been a sharp upturn in my fortunes lately. Catching big Flathead in Forster and, in the lake a big 37 cm Bream. Thanks for all yr help, it’s not an overstatement to say, yr kind words and sage advice helped to get me through my fishing doldrums and out the other side.😊

[@StarloGetsReel]

Wow! That's so good to hear! I reckon we all hit those doldrums from time to time... so good to come out the other side.

[@redfinite]

Couldn’t agree more. I love these types of videos Starlo. Seeing you set a challenge and work the spot trying various techniques is really educational for me. I guess for content creators it’s a balance in terms of showing some action but still reflecting the challenges of fishing. I think you strike that balance better than anyone. I feel like the fact that fishing is so challenging keep us coming back. Nice work mate. 👍

[@StarloGetsReel]

@@redfinite Thank you! 🙏

[@davidgc4396]

Enjoyed that one Starlo. Be careful on those rocks. I think I will go for a beach fish tomorrow morning should be mackerel and tuna getting around in the cooler weather 😊🐠

[@StarloGetsReel]

Have fun!

[@pigsandapples]

Thanks Steve. Would have been a perfect day for Groper...grrrr.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Yup...

[@AndrewMcLaughlin-cr8qq]

Have seen some gnarly hissy critters in that scrub in summer!

[@StarloGetsReel]

Me too! All asleep at the moment, I suspect.

[@shanejohnson57]

Should be using that new bait on those rocks

[@StarloGetsReel]

I think you’re right!

[@redtobertshateshandles]

I heard Kelpies go nuts for the stuff. 😂

[@ronaldmansfield.6439]

Fish oil poured onto a rag tied to a rope and thrown in the water acts as a good burley I have noticed.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Yep, definitely works! Good tip.

[@brendancarter5846]

Youll always get a small rock cod lol!

[@StarloGetsReel]

Yep.

[@moonlitpearl700]

I love the scenery and the sound of the crashing waves! Who is your intrepid cameraperson?

[@StarloGetsReel]

Thanks! I'm a one man show... I shot and edited this one on my own.

[@DanJF2011]

Hi Steve. I have a similar location near my house. I only seem to get Wrasse there, or they beat the other species to the bait. But it has Calamari just out from the rocks, that i want to try catching. I was going to use a baited prong on a weighted float, to get some casting distance. I am a complete novice at catching Calamari from the rocks. It would be great to see you do a video on catching Calamari from the rocks, to see how you do it. Cheers.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Here you go, check this one out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWScZYNjfLiUotk

[@DanJF2011]

@@StarloGetsReel Thankyou.

[@stevencultrera2519]

Hay Steve what brand of spiked boots are u wearing

[@StarloGetsReel]

Those ones are Adrenalin brand.

[@antonb8422]

Hey Starlo. I’m having trouble when casting lures with them snapping off on the knot. The rod iv got has super small guides on the tip sections. 8lb kairiki and 8 to 12lb fluro. Iv tried a slim beauty and FG but have the same issue. Any suggestions??

[@StarloGetsReel]

Hmmm. Maybe go back to a Double Uni, or try a different brand of leader material??

[@antonb8422]

@@StarloGetsReel double uni is probably the worst of them all 😂 So a mate has mentioned it may be the big change in line thickness. From the super thin Kairiki to the fluro. He mentioned it may help changing to a thicker braid so the leader to braid is more uniform??

[@nobodyhome8148]

You could find fish in a bathtub I reckon lol

[@StarloGetsReel]

I wish! But thanks.

[@cheesus4688]

You’d catch fish out of a pothole, legend 🫡

[@StarloGetsReel]

I wish! But thank you...

[@colinlee3633]

This actually intrigues me as I tried rock fishing in spots located myself but most of them are like this, and I got results just like yours. I wonder what constitutes a good rock fishing spot overall. What sort of red flags I should notice immediately when locating a spot.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Don't worry... after 50 years-plus of doing it, I still make the wrong choices, too!

[@redtobertshateshandles]

Fish. 😂 Seriously, a little depth of water and white wash. We used to snorkel around all the time as kids. You'd see a bream or two here and there and a small school of Drummer. Usually under or around white water. And I'll never forget that school of Mulloway I saw, or the bloke pull two decent Reds from my local boat ramp using an Alvey and mullet strips. It's the joy of land based fishing. When it comes together, it's great. If you noticed, Steve caught one of those Bream. Pretty good effort in the daytime.

[@normfoley1452]

How do you find wearing boot spikes on such hard sloping rocks.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Definitely a trade off. The spikes in my booties are pretty short. Probably better suited to flatter, more weed-covered ledges though.

[@simonhunt4614]

What rod are you using there Starlo?

[@StarloGetsReel]

@@simonhunt4614 10’ Shimano Dialuna spin… a new favourite!

[@jimspencer9628]

Whats your thoughts on useing a float with a long leader to minimise hand ups off the rocks

[@StarloGetsReel]

Certainly has its place, although I was casting into spots that varied from 1 to 3 metres in depth with lots of wave action and constantly varying depths (due to the surge), so perhaps not ideally suited to float fishing.

[@jimspencer9628]

@StarloGetsReel i all ways get snagged rock fishing so run a float with a good meter or more leader good to see your tipes n tricks over the years i still apply a lot of them even trying high and low tide at the same spots to see if its beeter im 1 hour north of Newcastle and where i live low tide is better but im at the back of nelson bay lol

[@mbnz0174]

It is interesting that you are targeting black drummer. Some sources say they are present in New Zealand, but I've never heard of anyone catching them or even seen one. We have silver drummer which are common, but universally regarded as disgusting to eat. That said, most people wouldn't eat a luderick/parore either! A lot comes down to preparation.

[@StarloGetsReel]

Yes, I've never heard any reliable accounts of black drummer (Girella elevata) being caught in NZ. They are a very different fish to the silver drummer, and MUCH better to eat... better than parore (blackfish), too. I'd give silver drummer a 2 out of 10 as a table fish, parore a 6 out of 10, and black drummer at least an 8... but everyone's opinions (and tastes) are different.

[@mbnz0174]

@@StarloGetsReel Nice summary!