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Sardine Run 2025 Explained by Kevin in Qora

Sardine Run 2025 Explained by Kevin

Sardine Run 2025 Explained by Kevin in Qora

Sardine Run 2025 Explained by Kevin in Qora: thank you Kevin!

Morning chaps
this is Kevin at Qora Mouth
just north of Mazeppa Bay in the Southern Transkei
well well
well the sardine run is definitely underway
netting going on already in Southern K
Z N started with Port Edward yesterday
and they’re moving up the coast a bit
uh we saw all the netting boats
standing around at Saint Mike’s
this morning which was a little bit north of uh
Port Edward
and they’re just looking and waiting and watching
um nets went out this morning at sandspit
and so those sardines are actually moving up the coast
albeit a little bit slowly
but that’s okay
there’s lots more sardines coming behind them
and I think you know
if we if we just discuss what’s happened so far
we have hindsight right now
2020 vision um
the sardines were down off east London as we know
then they moved to Cintsa
and then they disappeared off the radar
now normally
every year
I get the sards coming straight past the front of me
a kilometre out I saw nothing
the only thing I had to go on was the gannets
because every morning
the gannets leave their roost wherever they were
and they travel up the coast or down the coast uh
because they know where the sards are
and they were all booking it north of me
so what actually happened here
is that the sardines jumped out deep
because there was warm water in front of them
and they moved past me
probably out right where the continental shelf is
they probably wouldn’t go off the shelf
but our shelf here is about 19 KS out
so they were out there deep and they moved past
and yeah they’ve come in at KZN
strange how things work out
so what we can expect now chaps
is that these uh sardines are gonna move up the coast
and there’s lots more backing them up
I’m seeing lots of birds going north still
so there’s still lots of sardines out deep
we had a big shoal that moved through east London
about three days ago and that’s out deep
it’s uh
they’re moving in a very
very low current and they’re moving north cool
so um yeah
that’s what we got guys that’s what we got for now
but um
let’s keep watching and um
let’s hope it’s a bumper year for the netters there
please just another reminder
keep well clear of the nets
if you’re there in the morning watching them
um it’s dangerous work and it’s their job and um
tempers get a little bit flared
if the public get a little bit too close
so give them their space uh
watch from a distance and um
keep it real let’s have fun cheers

That’s all for the Sardine Run 2025 Explained by Kevin!

Sardines and Sightings

Join the Sardine News HOTLINE for 2025 and Neva Miss a Single Sardine! We first upload to YouTube, and then progressively up to the rest of the social platforms (Facey, X, etc) as the bandwidth allows.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN as a Member on YouTube, and receive all these perks too…

Member of WhatsApp Sardine News HOTLINE, access to restricted content on thesardine.co.za, LIVE Broadcasts from the Beach during the sardine run. And direct contact with the Sardine Spy network team.

You can also get around the season in a real fun way by checking out our annual Sardine Run Maps. This is a real groovy way to follow the progress of the sardines each year.

You can even download our app to your phone or device, accept notifications, and you will never miss a single sardine.

Here are the links to existing and past  Sardine Sighting Maps…

2025 Sardine Map

2024 Sardine Map

2023 Sardine Map

2022 Sardine Map

2021 Sardine Map

Channels

Brucifire Surf Retorts – highly entertaining  surf reporting

Master Watermen – news from way down deep

The Sardine News – neva miss a single  sardine

FishBazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

MYDO Tackle Talk – highly technical  sport fishing

Surf Launching Southern Africa – getting out there safely

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Sardines in Port Shepstone

Sardines in Port Shepstone

Sardines in Port Shepstone

Sardines in Port Shepstone: yup, right NOW 07h30 nets are in!

It is a difficult place to access, there is a gravel/sand track to the beach. You need to come in from Durban side, along the old road, just before the closed Umzimkulu Bridge, there is a turn to the right (Port Shepstone Country Club), then turn left onto the dirt immediately and travel to the end.

DO NOT PARK ANYWHERE NEAR THE MUD! On the right as you get to the end of the road, do NOT go in there.

Your car will go down to the bottom. It is a dangerous place for carpark sharks, too.

PLUS, there are earthmoving machines trying to renegotiate the course of the river to the sea. So that they can try and fix the errant pylon that has stopped the traffic over the bridge completely.

Crazy days on the Sandspit!

Sardines and Sightings

Join the Sardine News HOTLINE for 2025 and Neva Miss a Single Sardine! We first upload to YouTube, and then progressively up to the rest of the social platforms (Facey, X, etc) as the bandwidth allows.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN as a Member on YouTube, and receive all these perks too…

Member of WhatsApp Sardine News HOTLINE, access to restricted content on thesardine.co.za, LIVE Broadcasts from the Beach during the sardine run. And direct contact with the Sardine Spy network team.

You can also get around the season in a real fun way by checking out our annual Sardine Run Maps. This is a real groovy way to follow the progress of the sardines each year.

You can even download our app to your phone or device, accept notifications, and you will never miss a single sardine.

Here are the links to existing and past  Sardine Sighting Maps…

2025 Sardine Map

2024 Sardine Map

2023 Sardine Map

2022 Sardine Map

2021 Sardine Map

Channels

Brucifire Surf Retorts – highly entertaining  surf reporting

Master Watermen – news from way down deep

The Sardine News – neva miss a single  sardine

FishBazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

MYDO Tackle Talk – highly technical  sport fishing

Surf Launching Southern Africa – getting out there safely

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SARDINES in KZN Today?

SARDINES in KZN Today

SARDINES in KZN Today?

SARDINES in KZN Today? Head south to see if you can find your very own pocket of sardines to chase. There are going to be splintered shoals all over the place, and often these small shoals of sardines get caught on the inside as the tide drops. Today is a perfect day for that to happen with a good, strong high tide early in the morning. That goes all the way out until noon. Dropping 1.1m in total, we are just our of spring tides and heading to neaps.

Places where this sardine trap can spring are generally long points with a cove-like beach. That the sardines can easily access at high tide as they are trying to escape from the sharks and things that are trying to eat them all up.

This video is Members Only for now…Sign up at THIS link to never miss a single sardine and to support our channel at the same time!

Welcome back to the Sardine News
Sardine News Sardine News
ah welcome to a happy sardine weekend here in KZN
I have it on very high authority
that those sardines are right around the corner
can’t tell you much more than that
it’s just that there are plenty
plenty sardines coming
it turns out that when the current backs off
the Agulhas Current like it did the last couple of days
the sardines can put foot
and they come flying through on the
up the inside so yeah
KZN this weekend
just look out for all the cars and try avoid the chaos
there’s gonna be parking chaos
traffic chaos
there’s even gonna be sharks in the car park
trying to steal your fishing rods
while you chasing sardines on the beach
but watch out for all these things
and just try to be good behave
don’t leave litter behind and enjoy the scene
go for it get out there
I’ll see you on the beach

Sardines and Sightings

Join the Sardine News HOTLINE for 2025 and Neva Miss a Single Sardine! We first upload to YouTube, and then progressively up to the rest of the social platforms (Facey, X, etc) as the bandwidth allows.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN as a Member on YouTube, and receive all these perks too…

Member of WhatsApp Sardine News HOTLINE, access to restricted content on thesardine.co.za, LIVE Broadcasts from the Beach during the sardine run. And direct contact with the Sardine Spy network team.

You can also get around the season in a real fun way by checking out our annual Sardine Run Maps. This is a real groovy way to follow the progress of the sardines each year.

You can even download our app to your phone or device, accept notifications, and you will never miss a single sardine.

Here are the links to existing and past  Sardine Sighting Maps…

2025 Sardine Map

2024 Sardine Map

2023 Sardine Map

2022 Sardine Map

2021 Sardine Map

Channels

Brucifire Surf Retorts – highly entertaining  surf reporting

Master Watermen – news from way down deep

The Sardine News – neva miss a single  sardine

FishBazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

MYDO Tackle Talk – highly technical  sport fishing

Surf Launching Southern Africa – getting out there safely

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Sardines in Mdumbi

Sardines at Mdumbi

Sardines in Mdumbi

Sardines in Mdumbi: the ocean is alive and something is definitely up today…

Welcome back to the Sardine News
and a lekka good morning from the Sardine News
welcome back
we’re gonna kick off with the Roosta before the sun
at Banana Beach on the KZN
South Coast a wonderful day
no wind
no swell it’s just gonna be fantastic for surfing
diving and fishing small waves for surfing for sure
but out the out further back out in the deep
there’s a couple of waves coming through
a low tide in the midday
and high tide in the mornings these days
and now we’re gonna flip on over to Adam up in Durban
as the sun’s coming up
Adam and the guys were out at sea last week
and they recorded water down to like 21
and although the forecasters are still saying 23
and 24 and stuff
the Natal Sharks board good for something
they at least got the temperatures
on their daily reports right
and they are averaging a like 22
22
even lower in some places so the water is definitely
definitely cooling and so it could be
that the are there
are there the upwellings from the East blowing
or maybe it is the counter current
sneaking up on the inside
because as I showed you yesterday on the Windy analysis
that counter current was skinny
but it was definitely
reaching all the way up to Port Shepstone
and maybe even to Durban on the inside
okay and then this is Alan this morning in Port Stephen
chasing the sun too
so today we’re chasing the sun and sardines
talking about sardines
there are definitely sardines in Umdumbi
Robbie saw a shoal this morning coming through
probably a pilot shoal cause it wasn’t too big
and it was getting hammered to pieces by dolphins
and gannets and then Kevin got a proper confirmation
as we have already from the GoDive guys
that there are loads and loads of sardines
off East London
still travelling north like a hell of a lot
so I think we’re gonna have to go to windy
and have a look what’s going on okay
so there’s sardines in both of those cold patches
up here by us and then on Friday
that’s tomorrow I believe
look how there’s a big connection there
between the holothurians
so the sardines can definitely sneak through now into
in cold water and get up there to us
up into Notre Dame
the sardines will get through all the way up the inside
and who knows what might happen
but okay thank you
windy.com
for allowing us to use these magnificent tools
that you guys can also
check it out it’s free
hey windy.com
you just go there and on the right hand side
it says more layers
and you just dig through there and dig through
you can find sea temperatures
currents the whole lot it’s amazing tool
thank you Windy alright
and thank you all for liking and subscribing
if you join the channel
you will become a member of the HOTLINE
and none of these other weird groups that pop up
on WhatsApp and they use my material
they rip my stuff off and then put it on their groups
ha ha ha ha we put a stop to that
we managed to turn the situation around but okay
like subscribe and join the channel Ciao Ciao

Freedom O Clock Gallery

We are going to be based at Freedom O Clock (Mncibi – north bank of Mdumbi) in July for a couple of weeks if anybody is also keen on chasing sardines, shad and rock salmon! Get in touch with me, Sean, on +27793269671 or use the big old WhatsApp button floating about somewhere on this page.

Sardines and Sightings

Join the Sardine News HOTLINE for 2025 and Neva Miss a Single Sardine! We first upload to YouTube, and then progressively up to the rest of the social platforms (Facey, X, etc) as the bandwidth allows.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN as a Member on YouTube, and receive all these perks too…

Member of WhatsApp Sardine News HOTLINE, access to restricted content on thesardine.co.za, LIVE Broadcasts from the Beach during the sardine run. And direct contact with the Sardine Spy network team.

You can also get around the season in a real fun way by checking out our annual Sardine Run Maps. This is a real groovy way to follow the progress of the sardines each year.

You can even download our app to your phone or device, accept notifications, and you will never miss a single sardine.

Here are the links to existing and past  Sardine Sighting Maps…

2025 Sardine Map

2024 Sardine Map

2023 Sardine Map

2022 Sardine Map

2021 Sardine Map

Channels

Brucifire Surf Retorts – highly entertaining  surf reporting

Master Watermen – news from way down deep

The Sardine News – neva miss a single  sardine

FishBazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

MYDO Tackle Talk – highly technical  sport fishing

Surf Launching Southern Africa – getting out there safely

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Sardines Analysis: in-depth with Windy.com #sardinerun2025 #sardinemigration

Sardines Analysis 28 May 2025 with Windy

Sardines Analysis: in-depth with Windy.com #sardinerun2025 #sardinemigration

Sardines Analysis: in-depth with Windy.com: our meteorological partner – Windy.com – are endowed with a set of tools that make detailed analyses of what is going on with the sardines this year, so much more fun!

Weather

Let’s start with the weather…we have another whole week of low-pressure systems battling it out with any high-pressures they can find. And that big high off Durban (lives there most of the time) has been doing a great job fending off the cold fronts so far. But this next week has a lot of red and orange in it. And many, many close-together lines on the charts. These close-together lines mean big swell is on the way. And the prevailing low-pressures will produce nice big rolling swells from the south (just like the sardines like it) painted with an early morning offshore, delivered with coffee each day.

Sardines Analysis with Windy.com
Sardines Analysis with Windy.com

Currents

The ocean currents analysis from Windy.com tells a few secrets. You can clearly see that the normal straight-driving Agulhas Current has lost attention and is now meandering all over the place. Looks like it is trying to avoid potholes. It’s causing vortexes and counter currents in all the weirdest places. There are two easily identifiable warm-water barriers playing havoc with the already panicked sardines. Of which there are plenty. In that slightly colder patch from Coffee Bay to Port St Johns, there are pilot shoals. And some much bigger shoals coming up behind them. South of that, however, is warm water right to the coastline. And this extends right past Kevin in Qora towards Kei Mouth and Morgans Bay. Then it gets cold again and this is the water in which the GoDive operators are having so much fun. Further south, there is another warm water barrier that might be keeping some of the sardines down there for longer than they would like.

Sardines Analysis with Windy.com - currents and sea temps.
Is the Agulhas trying to avoid the KZN potholes or what? You can see where it veers out to sea from about Port Shepstone and then back in again at Kevin in Qora, bouncing off from there and making contact with land again at Port Alfred.

A huge thank you to Windy.com! And to all of our readers here on The Sardine News.

And as per programme…Adam on the ball in the Township Hyper Crows Nest, this early morning…

Sardines and Sightings

Join the Sardine News HOTLINE for 2025 and Neva Miss a Single Sardine! We first upload to YouTube, and then progressively up to the rest of the social platforms (Facey, X, etc) as the bandwidth allows.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN as a Member on YouTube, and receive all these perks too…

Member of WhatsApp Sardine News HOTLINE, access to restricted content on thesardine.co.za, LIVE Broadcasts from the Beach during the sardine run. And direct contact with the Sardine Spy network team.

You can also get around the season in a real fun way by checking out our annual Sardine Run Maps. This is a real groovy way to follow the progress of the sardines each year.

You can even download our app to your phone or device, accept notifications, and you will never miss a single sardine.

Here are the links to existing and past  Sardine Sighting Maps…

2025 Sardine Map

2024 Sardine Map

2023 Sardine Map

2022 Sardine Map

2021 Sardine Map

Channels

Brucifire Surf Retorts – highly entertaining  surf reporting

Master Watermen – news from way down deep

The Sardine News – neva miss a single  sardine

FishBazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

MYDO Tackle Talk – highly technical  sport fishing

Surf Launching Southern Africa – getting out there safely

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