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Sardine activity 2020 increases on the KZN South Coast
Category: Environment
Environmental issues and discussions.
Duarte Jnr at 7 yrs old release his first Mozambique Marlin
Duarte Jnr at 7 yrs old release his first Mozambique Marlin
Duarte Jnr at 7 yrs old release his first Mozambique Marlin: just please don’t ask if it’s black or a blue?!
Congratulations go out to young Duarte Rato Jnr, who, all on his own, and on his spinning outfit, caught and released his first Mozambique Marlin!
At age 7!
If a marlin can live to about 30. And a human say, 75. Then that marlin and Duarte Jnr would be about the same age! Cool stuff Duarte Jnr, I’ll start changing all the search terms to you instead of your Dad!
Yip, the FishBazaruto.com team took advantage fo a super-flat and calm day, to get out there and drag a bait or two around the inshore reefs and banks. And unbelievably, Duarte Jnr hooked up and fought the feisty little guy to the boat for a good few pics and a great release.
It’s been great watching these two kids growing up. Duarte Jnr has a little brother, Dario, who was just so amped about Duarte Jnr’s fish and was super-stoked to pose along with Duarte’s third kid, this one adopted – the ever-enthusiastic newbie angler – Diogo Martins (45 yrs young)! Otherwise knows as Diablo!
Anyway, it’s a helluva team that FishBazaruto.com present during the lockdown and other recreational times – or when customers are just simply not in existence!
That said…Mozambique’s absolute and outright victory at the Covid Competition might see people heading up to Bazaruto, correctly, as a safe-haven.
Just got to wonder when those borders are gonna be opened up?!
Get in touch if you like heading up thataway for a real escape sometime when it’s possible again. Sean on umzimkulu@gmail.com or WhatsApp +27793269671.
See you there!
We run a YouTube Channel jam-packed with as much video as we can make, and we are on FaceBook too.
Giant King Mackerel
Giant King Mackerel
The Giant King Mackerel we are referring to does not live in South Africa. Or Mozambique for that matter. Oh no, you will only find this guy hanging around the China Sea.
And man, does he get big.
This fish looks just like a giant version of our king mackerel, In fact, it could be named the goliath king mackerel, in the vein of the goliath tiger, because these fish get double the size of our regular king mackerel – the old Scomberomerous Commerson. The new guys is called Scomberomerous Sinensis.
Yes…double…the size!
And so this collection of articles from China and Taiwan, is all about these monsters and finding a way to getting to them ourselves…
(Special thanks to https://www.voyagesdepeche.com/toute-l-actualite-de-voyages-de-peche/chinese-seerfish.html for the featured image)
Article 1
https://thewebsiteofeverything.com/animals/fish/Perciformes/Scombridae/Scomberomorus-sinensis
Chinese seerfish live in the pelagic-neritic, amphidromous, freshwater, brackish, marine, in a depth range of a mere 10 m or less environment. They go up rivers!
Other names: Chinese seerfish, West African Spanish mackerel, Sarawa. More
The giant of the Mackerel, the Chinese Seerfish is found in the China Sea! Monsters Chinese Mackerels have been caught, some weighting 100 kgs or more!
Related to the Chinese seerfish and American king mackerel, this fish is always caught close to reef systems.
Article 2
Unbelievably, our couta over there in China, is called a Platinum. Whilst the Giant King Mackerel is called a Big Ear King?!
For real…anyway, this is a story of a 56kg Big Ear King being sold in the market for 60 000 Yuan. That is R160 000!!!
And this is where is was caught…just a few clicks south of Hong Kong! A place called Magong.
The translation is hilarious and worth a read in itself!
Article 3
http://www.yoshimimaru.com/jeju2009-10-15.html
These guys are charter fishers out of South Korea. They just take this in their stride as they jig up the Giant King Mackerel for guests. The fish don’t even make it to top spot as all sorts of other species preceded it in the post?!
Article 4
Some pics, and a YouTube video, of an 89kg, 2.31m fish being landed from a rock pier?! On a coffee grinder!
https://hakataseabasslure.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-940.html
Article 5
Says that these fish come from Taiwan area
Article 6
Article 7
Article 8
http://chinaplus.cri.cn/news/china/9/20170426/3639.html
This article could also be referring to our king mackerel which they also catch in China – called ‘Platinums’! But judging by the size of the fish in this market, the jury is gonna be out forever.
Article 9
Summary
Article 10
Article 11
http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2018-10-22/detail-ifyyzeyv7661653.shtml#1
Well that was quite an adventure researching all these magnificent fish and catches.
All I can say is, I AM GOING! Any takers, drop me a line and let’s get a trip together. Sponsors welcome!
We are on YouTube at http://youtube.com/user/umzimkulu1/
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Off the Grid Living – Episode 5 – The Veggie Garden
Off the Grid Living – Episode 5 – The Veggie Garden
The Veggie Garden: Lockdown 2020 is in full swing as we approach our second half way mark. Whilst thinking of less fortunate communities and people, we are counting our blessings here in Jukskei Park, in Johannesburg. Where I am hanging out with the van Biljon family. Where Dad Jonny, has been prepping for off the grid living, for ages now.
And man has it worked out during lockdown.
Plus.
We have Baby Jake. Cute yes. But two and a half and we all know what that means. He is so fast too nowadays!
Luckily.
Jake absolutely loves the veggie garden. He could spend all day in there. Copying his Dad’s every action. Sometimes causing havoc in the process! It’s defintely his happy place. All he needs is a garden spade and he is happy as Larry (Lardner?).
Staying healthy in times of viral attack, is vital. And the healthy highlight of the day every day, is the delicious salad Jonny puts together, from the garden. Today was themed crab stick and yes, it was delicious. With a splash of Jonny’s home-made salad dressing, it was filled with colour, and crispy fresh flavours.
We totally realise that our video series is going up in a hap-hazard way. At least we started with Episode 1! At this stage we have completed and published;
Episode 1 – Intro
Episode 2 – The Growers
Episode 9 – Homebrew
And now this one, Episode 5?!
Next episodes deal with Jonny’s solar installations…and an innovative approach to a common solar wastage problem.
The next videos are almost also complete, in the meantime, please consider subscribing to our YouTube Channel, at the following link:
http://youtube.com/user/umzimkulu1/
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Post by The Sardine News.
12 July 2019 Sardine Report
12 July 2019 Sardine Report
Sardines and surfers have been seen everywhere up and down the Natal South Coast, over the past two weeks. Outsized sea conditions have brought on the KZN winter proper! Your July 2019 Sardine Report…
A special thanks to Ant Fox for the featured image of this post – a school of dolphins enjoying the surf conditions way down south.
Many shoals (over 10 for sure) of genuine sardines have been netted. The price per crate sitting at R1300 or so. Equates to about R43 per kilo. Cheap at the price! But these are merely the so-called pilot shoals. Small pockets of sardines that break ahead of the main shoal, arriving a little earlier in the season and getting everyone warmed up.
The main shoal is reportedly still in the Transkei, making it’s way up the coast slowly. The warm water is troublesome for sardine hunters at the moment, however.
We are going to need a few days of Nor’Easter wind to chill the water back to where it was when the pilot shoals first pulled in. It’s way over 20 degrees right now, where ideal temperature for sardines to come in shallow is about 18 degrees.
At the moment a new low pressure system is kicking in. Warm Berg Winds this morning indicate the arrival of a stiff Sou’Wester later today. It’s gonna blast, and then swing around to offshore mornings with easterly afternoons. A great formula for bringing the water temperature down slowly.
Sharks
Many anglers who have taken up shark fishing from the beach and rocks, are having an absolute blast right now. Big reels. Big baits. Big fish.
Shad
Well unfortunately, DAFF and friends are not coping with the volume as sack loads of shad are leaving the beach. It is unashamed murder as some guys load 50 and more, take that load home, and return for more. This is happening at all the usual spots but Margate Pier and Splash Rock have been particularly busy lately.
Overall the shad have been on the small side.
Litter
It seems to just get worse as piles and piles of rubbish are left at all your favourite beaches. The shift in fisherman behaviour is going to be a massive requirement as it seems to be hardwired into some people that you can, in this day and age of polluted oceans, throw your trash into nature.
But, what a bad name we all get from this indolent behaviour. Please take your trash off the beach and rocks with you. You know who you are!
Surfing
The surf has been cooking the entire time with carparks packed by locals who have been waiting all year for the favourable offshore winds and strong swells. And warm winter water.
Gamefish
Whilst surfing we have encountered some huge GTs, that circled us a while and then basically obliterated a shoal of shad right next to us. Shad were flying everywhere as the huge fish pummelled them in a team effort. Better bring your elephant gun if you want to tackle these fish. Skib-oater Greg Defilippi has released two GTs over 20kgs just recently. Cannot tell you where this was unfortunately, you will have to do some searching yourself!
Whales
It is humpback highway right now on the Natal South Coast and down into the Transkei. As these beautiful mammals make their way up to the calm and warm waters of the African East coast. Where the big mommas suckle their young and avoid eager males chasing them all over the place. Great spectator fun. You can get right up close and personal with the humpbacks, there are limitations, but we can get you in amongst them safely and legally anytime. The whales have arrived in the Bazaruto waters too, and continue quite very far north. They stick around until November and even into December on occasion. The Sardine team will be busy with whales and research in October this 2019, for a few weeks.
And a word from our sponsors…
After a big day out on the ocean, there is nothing much like winding down on a sunset river cruise on the Umzimkulu River in Port Shepstone. This cool little clip was shot by Sardine correspodent Neil Campbell with his new drone…
VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/hsDubs5Zo8A
Email Sean on umzimkulu@gmail.com to arrange a ride. Corporates and team builders welcome.
Stay up-to-date with The Sardine News as we search daily for news of the main shoals and the marine life with them, this 2019. You can join the weekly newsletter by entering your email on https://thesardine.co.za.
The 2019 sardine report series is brought to you by the Umzimkulu Marina, MYDO Fishing Lures and The Fishing Pro Shop (Pta).
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Post by https://thesardine.co.za