26 June 2023 – Where did the sardines go?

26 June 2023 – Where did the sardines go?

26 June 2023 – Where did the sardines go? This is the big question after so much early action already experienced this year. It’s been an incredibly cool couple of weeks with sardines surprising us day in and day out.

Things started hot with GoDive getting us some incredibly cool underwater shots from the Port Alfred area. Soon Kevin in Qhora started his reports of sardine sightings. Then East London had that massive shoal decide to make a break for it. After being hammered mercilessly at Kaisers Beach, where they were stuck a few days. These guys then burned on through to Port St Johns where every shark and his dog were waiting for them. Carnage. Finally, the bigger shoals came through to back up the pilot shoals that were netted early. Nets went in at many places and the prices dropped fast.

But now they have seemingly disappeared.

I did a check yesterday from the high points at Port Shepstone and Umtentweni. You could see for miles it was so smooth and glassy. But there were no sardines. Until something caught my eye way out on the horizon. It was birds and predators. Smashing. I saw the same thing a few more times and have to deduce that that is where the fish are. 3km or more out to sea.

I sincerely hope they come back in soon. But in the meantime, I am sick and tired of sardines so The Sardine News is heading south to cover some other seriously interesting news. We will continue to update the map. But this week we will be down south!

Who knows what we might find still on its way?

Sardine Run 2023 Sightings Map

For a great overall perspective and ongoing look at sardine conditions you can easily check out the interactive sardine and sightings map…updated constantly…right here…

2023 Sardine Run Map 

Install the APP

You can install The Sardine News as an app on your phone (use the three little dot menu on your phone browser). And if you allow notifications, each time we update this page with a confirmed sighting, you will get a real sardine notification.

Right on your phone! Thank you to all those who have installed and used the app this season.

YouTube Channels

For when it’s quiet, in between sardine shoals – we have some cool YouTube Channels to keep you entertained and informed of all things sardines, ocean and conservation.

The Sardine News

Surf Launching Southern Africa

MYDO Tackle Talk

Water Woes (best said in Afrikaans)