A great example of sensationalism being used to grab attention. This post received thousands of views.
An Instagram feed journal of the activities of The Sardine News activities…
Watch the video here
The first sessions of the Umzimkulu Marina Fishing Day Camp went off without event! No-one fell in, all the kids were stoked…and patrons Bela and Geraldine are run off their feet!
The day starts at 7:30 am and if you don’t fetch your kids by 3pm, there is a surcharge per hour.
The kids get to fish and play all day, with erstwhile and qualified hosts looking after them. There are snacks and refreshments for lunch, but parents are urged to send their kids fully prepared. This includes bites and drinks, rods and reels, and fishing tackle.
If you don’t have these things ironed out, rods and reels are available for hire. Or if your kid don’t like fishing, they can join the other kids who have the same tendencies.
Availability is limited. Enquiries to Bela on 078 538 9913 or Geraldine on 073 27 11 694.
As the sardines go into hiding they leave behind shoals of eager predator fish and carparks full of eager fisherfolk chasing them. Shad still dominate the scene at most places but in some spots, like Port Alfred, they are annoyingly absent. They also have been breaking the norm by becoming nocturnal this year. Even where there are no lights to attract them, like at Mdumbi in the Transkei, the shad come on the bite as soon as the sun disappears, or appears?!
In Port Shepstone and surrounds a few nice garrick have been caught and more speared as the spearos enjoy a bumper run of bigger fish, this year. Aside from Mike Stubbs really good fish from last week, it’s been small salmon, as we wait for the moon to come round. The real garrick run has not started at all, we await with ‘baited’ breath.
Grunter have been all over the place but a barrage of flatties (skates) have been causing trouble in most estuaries, with the perfect baits, meant for grunter. In Port Alfred, where thesardine.co.za team currently is, there is one particular local flatties that goes a few square metres, and has been wreaking havoc up and down the marina. The big news here is the Pignose Grunter / White Steenbras, or Steenies as they are very affectionately known here, have infiltrated the canals. The biggest reported so far was 14 kgs! Garrick are also cruising the canals for mullet and last night could be seen herding them out of Kiddies pool and into the awaiting ambush. Port Alfred is a spectacular fishing destination wih something for everyone. Shark fishing is a big attraction!? And so are the waves?
The north coast of KZN has also had sporadic sardine action and with it, the gamefish. Snoek and couta are taking a hammering and the odd couta has even been gracing the gallery. Check out Jason Heyne’s recent report here.
Well, it’s the calm before the storm on the southern east coast of Africa today. Temperatures are way down, as the next cold front, the one that brings the sardines, comes into focus.
Jason Heyne has been diving the waters up and down from his base in Durban, for decades. So when Jason says he has never seen action like he had over the last few days, then it’s very serious. And to back up this claim, check out the attached gallery of amazing spearfishing action.
Thank you Jason…
“I have never seen so much action on the natal coast. Sardines north and south coast. We are having a bumper garrick run (Lichia amia). If you sit on any point on the south coast you are bound to see at least one shoal. I saw a shoal this week of 100 plus fish all over 8kg! Snoek are around if the water is warm. ..I got schooled by three huge Snoek this week. The North East is set to blow tomorrow which is bad for viz but good for the sardines. On the whole diving conditions have been good this week with the best conditions on the south coast. Sunday is looking better for a dive but if you can get in early tomorrow you should beat the east. Well done to Matthew on bagging a beaut of a yellow tail on a shore dive in oz! “
