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Swim Safe: NSRI Top Ten Safety Tips for this December

NSRI Swim Safe

Swim Safe: NSRI Top Ten Safety Tips for this December: the extraordinarily pro-active NSRI saves lives every single day.

Swim Safe: NSRI Top Ten Safety Tips for this December – The Sardine News and the NSRI are working together we are assisting get these wonderfully considerate communications about being safe in the water.

THE NSRI’S TOP 10 SWIM SAFE TIPS:

  1. Alcohol and swimming or boating.
    Avoid Alcohol and Swimming or boating.
    Swimming or boating after consuming Alcohol puts your life at significant risk.
    When consuming alcohol and supervising children near water, your attention is compromised.
    We do not drink and drive; the same dangers apply to going into water and alcohol.
  2. Supervision of children
    Drowning is silent.
    Parents and caregivers should watch their children in or near water. If they are having difficulty, there will be no splashing or call for help.
    When in the water, an adult should be within arm’s reach of their child.
    It is safest to go into the water and to swim in areas that lifeguards patrol.
    A drowning can occur when you are distracted by social media on your mobile phone or decide to take a call. Be alert.
  3. Dangerous Currents and lifeguarded beaches.
    Going into the water or swimming between lifeguard flags is safest.
    Most people need help to identify dangerous currents or rip currents at beaches. Lifeguards can keep you safe between their flags – so rather go into the water there.
    If you get caught in a current, do not panic; float and swim to the side (out of the current) before trying to swim back to the beach.
    If you see someone who needs help, call a lifeguard or call the NSRI.
    Try throwing something that floats to them.
    You should only go into the water to try to help someone with floatation. A Pink Rescue Buoy or surfboard is a good example of floatation.
  4. Know your emergency numbers
    112 is the general emergency number in South Africa and a free call. If you dial 112, you can ask to be put through to the Police, Ambulance, Fire and Rescue or NSRI/Sea Rescue.
    087 094 9774 is the National Sea Rescue Institute’s Emergency Operations Centre direct line. Any NSRI resource in the country can be activated from this centre.
    Please think about what emergency numbers you may need and save your local emergency numbers in your phone before you need them.
    If you suddenly need an emergency number you have not saved – Google it. (For example, if you Google NSRI or Sea Rescue, you will quickly find the emergency number).
  5. Wear a lifejacket
    NSRI volunteers always wear lifejackets on the water in their rescue boats, as should you. If the NSRI crew can work on their boats and conduct rescue missions wearing lifejackets, you can also get used to wearing them.
    If you unexpectedly land in the water and become too tired or cold, you may no longer be able to stay afloat. A lifejacket will save your life.
    Choose a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) or lifejacket that suits your activity on the water. Ask experts for advice online or in a store.
  6. NSRI SafeTRX
    The RSA SafeTRX App monitors a small craft journey and alerts emergency contacts nominated by the user (family and friends) should they fail to return to shore on time. This free cell phone application enables the user to plot their intended course, store essential emergency numbers that NSRI can use if they fail to return from their trip, give NSRI their location at all times during their trip, provide the user with the ability to call an emergency by the push of a button and giving NSRI your exact position throughout our rescue response if you press the emergency button. It only works where there is a cell phone signal.
    Features include an Emergency Call button, which allows you to make a distress call quickly from the application. The app sends an emergency location update to the NSRI Emergency Operations Centre and your emergency contacts if you have a cell phone connection. Track-only mode can be used to begin tracking at a touch of a button.
  7. Heavy rainfall and flooding (Summer rainfall areas).
    Do not attempt to cross a fast-flowing river on foot or in a car.
    If you need to cross a river in a vehicle that is not flowing fast, walk through using a stick for support and check the depth before driving into the water.
    Fast-flowing rivers are extremely dangerous. Do not attempt to rescue a person trapped in a vehicle or who is being swept away. Call for help.
  8. Learn Survival Swimming
    If you suddenly find yourself out of your depth and can float, you can return to safety.
    NSRI Survival Swimming teaches you to hold your breath, open your eyes in the water (to orient yourself so you know which way to swim), float, and move a short distance through the water.
  9. Learn bystander CPR
    If a person is not breathing, call for help.
    Push hard and fast in the centre of their chest )100 – 120 chest compressions per minute)
    Keep going until professional help arrives, or you are too tired to continue.
  10. When using a boat with an engine, always use a kill switch.
    A Kill switch is a special cord connecting a switch on the throttles to the person driving the boat.
    If that person falls and loses control of a boat, the kill switch is pulled, and the engine stops.
    Never move away from the throttles or remove the kill switch when the engine is in gear.

Swim Safe!

For interviews or information, please get in touch with NSRI Communications Manager Andrew Ingram at andrewi@searescue.org.za or on 082 990 5977

Yesterdays Sardine News features the new installation of a Pink Torpedo Buoy at The Block in Port Shepstone. A notoriously unsafe place to swim…amongst other stories…

Swim safe with the NSRI and The Sardine News…

  • Swim Safe: NSRI Top Ten Safety Tips for this December

    Swim Safe: NSRI Top Ten Safety Tips for this December

    Swim Safe: NSRI Top Ten Safety Tips for this December: the extraordinarily pro-active NSRI saves lives every single day. Swim Safe: NSRI Top Ten Safety Tips for this December – The Sardine News and the NSRI are working together we are assisting get these wonderfully considerate communications about being safe in the water. THE NSRI’S…

  • Do not become a rip current casualty. Swim at lifeguarded beaches.

    Do not become a rip current casualty. Swim at lifeguarded beaches.

    Do not become a rip current casualty. Swim at lifeguarded beaches. Do not become a rip current casualty. Swim at lifeguarded beaches: On average, 56 people drown because of rip currents in South Africa each year. Rips are the most significant danger visitors to our beaches face. Our top tip for avoiding rips and staying…

  • Jumping Tides this 11 December 2024

    Jumping Tides this 11 December 2024

    Jumping Tides this 11 December 2024 Jumping Tides this 11 December 2024: welcome back to The Sardine News this absolutely perfect 11 December 2024. And it’s a jump tide (the tide moved forward about 2 hours last night) so we are back to idyllic low tide mornings. As we move towards an epic spring tide…

Sardines and Sighting Maps

It has been a fantastic sardine run this memorable 2024. And all the action has been logged right here on The Sardine News. This year’s map has been viewed 199,000 times and just keeps growing.

Which led us to decide to keep the map live. And keep adding unique marine animal sightings and events. That occurs non-stop all year round. This year we started to log more whale and dolphin sightings. And we even had a shipwreck! And a freaking tornado! And recently a capsized KZNSB boat! We have been updating the map with recent catches too…

These events will from now on be included in the Sardine News Sightings Map for 2024. And on the 1 January 2025, we shall start all over again.

Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. Great for a windy day like today to research. With instructions to install The Sardine News right on your phone or desktop.

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

Water Woes – complain about your municipality here

Websites

umzimkulu.co.za – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –  will get you right out and onto the edge
thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine
masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water
fishbazaruto.com – dreams
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts

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Mozambique: Summary of Venâncio Mondlane December 16th Communication

Animal Farm African Version by Mondlane

Mozambique: Summary of Venâncio Mondlane December 16th Communication

Mozambique: Summary of Venâncio Mondlane December 16th Communication

Well, at the least this revolutionary can write. Or it seems. Or was this list hashed up around a big table with loud voices and zero consideration for the important things in life? Like Xmas and New Year? Fuel and water? Peace and harmony? A functioning country?

For it won’t be long before the whole country implodes into reckless violence if Mondlane and Chapo carry on like the idiots that they are right now. I know one of them personally and can tell you right now, he is an absolute moron. Powers of deduction lead me to believe the same about the other.

My newest favourite quote…

“What good has any revolutionary ever achieved?” – A Wise Woman

Revolutionary achievements? Che Guevara? He was simply killed by the CIA and achieved absolutely nothing except made it onto many t-shirts later on in life. Mandela? Well, look at his legacy. Machel? Well…look at ’em go!

All any revolutionary wants is what the others have. And so they revolt. Their revolting behaviour (if bloody enough) puts them in the pound seat. And new revolutionaries pop up wanting that same seat. And so they start acting revolting too (terrorism, strikes and protests) and the cycle continues.

The Announcement

Over to Idiot Number One…or Two, I can’t quite work it out…but his name is Mondlane…and this is what he managed to scribble together yesterday…

  1. Given the damage caused in Cabo Delgado by cyclone Chido, this week will be a week of solidarity and therefore there will be no drastic measures
  2. This week will be a week of mourning and will last 4 days, from Thursday to Sunday. Thursday is the 19th and will mark 2 months since the deaths of Elvino Dias and Paulo Gwambe and therefore this week will also be a week of celebration of the heroes of modern Mozambican democracy.
  3. During these 4 days, all activities must take place normally, without demonstrations, but people must dress in black, if that is their mourning tradition, or in white if that is their tradition. And from 1:00 pm to 1:15 pm daily, there must be a break to sing the national anthem and pray.
  4. From Friday to Sunday, prayers for justice in Mozambique must be held in mosques/churches/temples
  5. On Sunday, December 22nd, the day before the results will be announced by the Constitutional Council, there must be vuvuzelas and whistles from 9pm to 10pm.
    6.On Monday, December 23rd, all activity and movement must stop across the country to hear the reading of the Constitutional Council’s Judgment. However, the movement of health personnel, lawyers and patients must be allowed.
  6. The Turbo V8 period will be announced on December 23rd by the words the Chair of the Constitutional Council will choose to read. She will have to decide between the electoral truth and the electoral lie, which will determine whether the future will be one of peace or chaos. All responsibility for the country’s future will be in the hands of the 7 members of the Constitutional Council.
  7. Until January 15th, the day Venâncio Mondlane takes office as President of the Republic of Mozambique, the collection of all tolls, all logging and mining operations, and the collection of customs duties from informal cross-border female traders must be suspended.

(is that straight out of Orwell or what? – Sean)

And now Idiot Number Two – Chapo…

“I want to be the president for all Mozambicans, united from Rovuma to Maputo. Let us engage in dialogue, in conversation. It is not through street protests that Mozambique develops but through peace, dialogue, harmony, security, and conversation. We are open to any Mozambican who has an idea to contribute to our country” – Presidential Speech Writer for Daniel Chapo (Frelimo).

For I have met a presidential speech writer—a little creep from England. He was working for Zuma as his speechwriter at the time. And told me that Zuma had to practise over and over to get his speeches right. Our little creepy speech writer would have to simplify and simplify until Zuma got it easy enough to read out loud. Speech writer for a political party. How soul-less could you ever be in your life?

These people (Mondlane, Chapo, Zuma, Ramaphosa etc…) are not near the levels that normal governments operate at. They are a mentally retarded and even more sick version of the pigs in “Animal Farm” by George Orwell. And the sheeple, well all they can do is scream and shout (Toyi-toyi in South Africa) since their education is so low, due to total neglect of the educational system by the “pigs” in charge. So imagine Animal Farm, with guns and machetes issued at the entrance. But issued only to some. For some animals are just more equal than others.

And welcome to the African full-violence version of Animal Farm! 100 Dead by politics in Mozambique during this crisis so far already. And this number is sure to climb if those two morons can’t sit down and work this out democratically.

Sardines and Sighting Maps

It has been a fantastic sardine run this memorable 2024. And all the action has been logged right here on The Sardine News. This year’s map has been viewed 199,000 times and just keeps growing.

Which led us to decide to keep the map live. And keep adding unique marine animal sightings and events. That occurs non-stop all year round. This year we started to log more whale and dolphin sightings. And we even had a shipwreck! And a freaking tornado! And recently a capsized KZNSB boat! We have been updating the map with recent catches too…

These events will from now on be included in the Sardine News Sightings Map for 2024. And on the 1 January 2025, we shall start all over again.

Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. Great for a windy day like today to research. With instructions to install The Sardine News right on your phone or desktop.

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

Water Woes – complain about your municipality here

Websites

umzimkulu.co.za – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –  will get you right out and onto the edge
thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine
masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water
fishbazaruto.com – dreams
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts

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Do not become a rip current casualty. Swim at lifeguarded beaches.

NSRI Warning Rip Current

Do not become a rip current casualty. Swim at lifeguarded beaches.

Do not become a rip current casualty. Swim at lifeguarded beaches: On average, 56 people drown because of rip currents in South Africa each year. Rips are the most significant danger visitors to our beaches face.

Our top tip for avoiding rips and staying safe as the holidays start this season is visiting a beach where and when lifeguards are on duty.

The NSRI Lifeguard season started on December 1st for the Knysna and George municipalities and began yesterday, December 13th, for Matzikama, Cederberg, Bergriver, Saldanha Bay, Club Mykonos, and Hessequa.

NSRI Lifeguard managers Rebecca Carter-Smith and Mthe Kweyama offer good advice on staying safe at the beach during the summer holidays.

“Alcohol and going into the water should be avoided at all costs,” says Mthe. “Swimming after consuming alcohol puts your life at significant risk,” he added. “Alcohol compromises your judgment, lessens your ability to cope with cold water, reduces your ability to stay afloat and reduces your ability to concentrate. If parents or caregivers are looking after children in or near water, drinking alcohol will reduce their ability to be able to help their children if the need arises.”

“Please don’t drink before going into the water,” adds Mthe.

“Supervision of children is critical,” agrees Rebecca. “Drowning is silent. There will not be any shouts for help or splashing. If someone is starting to drown, often they will quietly slip under the water without making any noise.” “Parents should take responsibility for their children and be at arm’s length from them when in the water,” she added.

Most people need help to correctly identify dangerous or rip currents at beaches. Lifeguards can keep you safe between their flags – so rather go into the water there.

Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water that flow away from the shore, posing a significant danger to beachgoers. They typically form where waves break over sandbars or reefs, creating localised water movements that pull swimmers out to sea.

Rip currents can reach almost 3 meters per second, making them faster than an Olympic swimmer. They develop when waves push water towards the shore, raising the water level. This excess water then seeks to return to the ocean through the path of least resistance, often forming a current through gaps in sandbars or other underwater features.

Several visual cues identify rip currents: Darker water indicates deeper channels where waves do not break. Gaps between waves: Areas where fewer or no waves are breaking can signal a rip current. Choppy surface: A distinct channel of turbulent water surrounded by smoother areas.

Rip currents are the leading cause of rescues by lifeguards at beaches. They do not pull individuals under the water but can quickly drag them away from the beach. Panic often leads swimmers to swim against the current, which can result in exhaustion and drowning.

If caught in a rip current, it is crucial to remember to stay calm: Do not panic; conserve energy by floating. Swim out of the current: Instead of swimming directly back to land, swim sideways to escape the current’s grip. Signal for help: Raise your arm and shout for assistance if needed.

If you see someone who needs help in the water, call a lifeguard or the NSRI for help. (112 is a free call from your cell phone, or contact the NSRI Emergency Operations Centre on 087 094 9774).

Try to throw something that floats to the person who needs help. Remember that untrained people should only go into the water to help if they are strong swimmers and have flotation. An NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy or surfboard is a good example of floatation. Interestingly, since the Pink Buoy project started in late 2017, 130 people, in 100 instances, were rescued with a Pink Buoy because of rip currents.

The following Municipalities in the Western Cape have NSRI lifeguards:

Matzikama, Cederberg, Bergriver, Saldanha Bay, Club Mykonos, Hessequa, George and Knysna.

Media:

Video material and photographs of NSRI Lifeguards can be downloaded from the NSRI’s Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/searescue/albums/72177720304674667/

A video on rip currents is available on NSRI’s YouTube channel https://youtu.be/9GBUBDMENfw?si=l-8mdp4fcUZchnaL

Photographs of rip currents and be downloaded from NSRI’s Flickr page https://www.flickr.com/photos/searescue/albums/72157719324524640/

For interviews or information, please get in touch with NSRI Communications Manager Andrew Ingram at andrewi@searescue.org.za or on 082 990 5977

Sardines and Sighting Maps

It has been a fantastic sardine run this memorable 2024. And all the action has been logged right here on The Sardine News. This year’s map has been viewed 199,000 times and just keeps growing.

Which led us to decide to keep the map live. And keep adding unique marine animal sightings and events. That occurs non-stop all year round. This year we started to log more whale and dolphin sightings. And we even had a shipwreck! And a freaking tornado! And recently a capsized KZNSB boat! We have been updating the map with recent catches too…

These events will from now on be included in the Sardine News Sightings Map for 2024. And on the 1 January 2025, we shall start all over again.

Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. Great for a windy day like today to research. With instructions to install The Sardine News right on your phone or desktop.

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

Water Woes – complain about your municipality here

Websites

umzimkulu.co.za – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –  will get you right out and onto the edge
thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine
masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water
fishbazaruto.com – dreams
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts

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The Sardine Run 2025 is actually Starting Already

Sardine Run 2025

The Sardine Run 2025 is actually Starting Already

The Sardine Run 2025 is actually Starting Already: There is a lot going on out in the ocean off KZN right now. Mainly, the powerful Agulhas Current has surged in volume and velocity and is currently hurtling down the KZN seaboard. Coming in right close to shore. Cranking the sea temperature right up to 26 and more.

This Agulhas Current (aka Mozambican Current), brings the summer gamefish. Who gather at the halocline in numbers between the stark blue, and the nutrient-rich brown. Brown water that has seasonally flowed out of the last few functioning estuaries we have left in KZN. This water carries nutrients. Feeding all the reef systems out and into the prevailing Agulhas’ path. And alkaline sediment. That vitally balances the ocean of its ever-increasing acidity levels.

Patrolling the halocline with umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za
Patrolling the halocline with umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za

But relevant to sardines, this is when the Natal Pulse phenomena start to form. In the bottom left image below, there is a fine example of a whirlpool-looking piece of Agulhas Current that has encountered the continental shelf where it sticks further out – towards the north of Durban. And has formed its own vibe. There is a smaller one dissipating further south off East London if you look hard. This shelf off Durban extends far offshore—many miles. As the Agulhas plunges into this huge underwater promontory, these are the weird kind of things that start to happen.

Sardine Run 2025
Its the bottom left image that tells the most…about how the Sardine Run 2025 Sardine Run will be happening.

Much like the edges of a river, you start getting counter-currents and whirlpools. That are held in place by the opposing current and hard land. Eventually, something gives and one of these bodies of water breaks away from the main Agulhas Current body.

This “pulse” meanders down on the outside/underneath of the main Agulhas Current, and heads for the Agulhas Banks. Slowly. Where the sardines are forming up! Where they are enjoying their cold water environment. They live in 14 to 17 degrees or so ideally. Now this huge circling piece of warm Agulhas Current is heading straight for them and their cold water paradise.

It reaches the Agulhas Banks. And this big unruly piece of water starts to react with the prevailing cold water. Eventually, one of these “Natal Pulses” (about three per year are recorded on average) successfully breaks off a huge piece of this cold water -dissecting it away from the cold southern Indian Ocean.

This pocket of water is pushed up and towards the land, and becomes the strong Agulhas counter-current. That starts off the southern Cape each winter. And this water is full of sardines. About 10% of the total sardine population of the Agulhas Banks is trapped in it. They think they are travelling north-west, up the West Coast to Namibia, to spawn. But they are stuck heading northeast now! In a counter-current heading up along the inside of the Agulhas stream. To KZN and then to nowhere after that.

For none of these sardines survive the annual sardine run – that they have now become.

They all get devoured by the waiting predators as the cold piece of water they are travelling meanders up to KZN. The Greatest Shoal on Earth. This counter-current eventually displaces the seasonal weakened Agulhas Current. And forces that warm water torrent back out to sea. To start the process all over again in summer.

Caveat: It may not be totally correct to state that the Sardine Run 2025 has begun. Since actually, the sardine runs never stop preparing and forming up each and every year.

And then…

No Sardines

Sometimes, these two or three annual “Natal Pulses” that pop off and cause all the chaos, don’t quite get it right. And this is when we have the sardine run no-shows. People do forget, but for a few years recently, there were no sardines at all. Perceptions and opinions were formed about the sardines being gone. A valid fear. Luckily so far it seems that the Agulhas Bank population of sardines is healthy enough. And has seemed sustainable for the decades of harvesting they have been going through. In order to achieve their life’s goal and wind up in your supermarket trolley – in a can.

But ok, here’s cheering to a fantastic Sardine Run 2025!

To experience this show first hand – get in touch with me Sean on umzimkulu@gmail.com or on +27793269671. Or use the big old WhatsApp button floating around on this page somewhere. Many options available.

Sardines and Sighting Maps

It has been a fantastic sardine run this memorable 2024. And all the action has been logged right here on The Sardine News. This year’s map has been viewed 199,000 times and just keeps growing.

Which led us to decide to keep the map live. And keep adding unique marine animal sightings and events. That occurs non-stop all year round. This year we started to log more whale and dolphin sightings. And we even had a shipwreck! And a freaking tornado! And recently a capsized KZNSB boat! We have been updating the map with recent catches too…

These events will from now on be included in the Sardine News Sightings Map for 2024. And on the 1 January 2025, we shall start all over again.

Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. Great for a windy day like today to research. With instructions to install The Sardine News right on your phone or desktop.

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

Water Woes – complain about your municipality here

Websites

umzimkulu.co.za – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –  will get you right out and onto the edge
thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine
masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water
fishbazaruto.com – dreams
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts

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Finally Some Good News from Mozambique

13 December 2024 Dorado Plus Good News From Mozambique

Finally Some Good News from Mozambique

Finally Some Good News from Mozambique: a wide and varied Sardine News Report today, December 13, 2024. It is 4 a.m. as I write this, and it is raining beautifully. It is just a gentle soaking rain that is filling all the gaps in the garden, just the way we like the wet season to unfold here in KZN. Unlike previous years, where we experienced deluge after deluge, this is manageable and, quite simply, enjoyable!

Let’s just shoot up to Mozambique and take stock of the situation as it today…

Finally Some Good News from Mozambique

Where DriveMoz and their Zello Channel are working wonders again. They operate in real time so everyone knows where everyone is. There are convoys to join. And this lekker letter from Abrie at Coco Adventure Village, in Barra, Inhambane…came from there this morning too…

“Traffic is flowing nicely through all border posts and especially through Lebombo. Obstructions in the roads around Lebombo, the Ring road, Bobole , Chidenguelle, Macia , Cumbana and others have been cleared up. Tourists have made used of the Giriyindo border post for numerous days now , without any problems.
The Moamba gravel road also became a good option again for travellers over the past week and without any incidents. Drivemoz, and especially their Zello channel, helped numerous travelers into and out of Mozambique safely.
Driving in convoys also became a new norm and assistance from the normal Mozambican citizens have been found to be exceptional – it was reported on numerous occasions that these people are absolutely fantastic.
Unfortunately the criminal elements are still very active on all roads ( nothing to do with the politics) – which means that they have always been there and only use this opportunity to make it easier to surface.
If you need to travel, it is still recommended to organise and plan better- to drive in convoys where possible – and definitely to make sure that Drivemoz and Zello know that you are on the road and to stay in touch throughout your journey. You also need to keep your fuel tanks filled up all the time and provide for extra food and water in your vehicle.
It is also absolutely necessary, like always, to devote some time in prayer while you travel and before and after your journey.
Have a safe time.”
Abrie
Coco adventure village
Barra
Inhambane

So there you have it, some good news out of Mozambique, finally.

Quick look at Umhlanga

Lifeguards training in the lekker conditions at Umklanga this morning.

Spotted Grunter Spotted

Unbelievably, the warm 25 degree ocean water came charging in through the Umzimkulu Estuary mouth in Port Shepstone yesterday. Giving us our first chance in ages to deploy cameras and see exactly what is going on down there.

The rains have been gentle and soaking this year so far- just the way we like it – the rivers are flowing consistently, and yet the tide pulse is able to fight its way up the river each high tide . Yesterday, the tide was just making a comeback off neaps, and the water came rushing in.

Blue!

The purpose of our new drone camera boat, is not to wage war. But rather to surprise and identify fish that we just can’t see from the boat or beach. On a myriad of occasions, we have had huge fish just wallowing or hunting visible just below the surface but we just don’t know what they are. Suspects include big kob, big springer and the like.

But, practice makes perfect…so I enlisted the services of klein Kaptein Cassie, down on fishing holiday with his family. Grandad and Dad stayed at the boat whilst Cassie and I headed up towards the mouth. It was wild with waves peeling down the sandbank on the inside of the bridge. Tiny waves. But huge for the drone camera boat. We launched into a mean shorebreak and Cassie took the wheel.

He is as enthusiastic as any young captain could be. Pulling donuts and handbrake turns flat out. Eventually I got a turn and tried keeping steady in the rough conditions. Which actually worked. I could easily drift this little craft with the current into a feeding shoal of gamefish. The light and the angle of the dangle (camera) was pretty much perfect and I think the second sea trials of the camera-equipped RC boat can be logged as a serious success.

Cassie took the wheel again and captured a radical sharks eye view of his Dad fishing. But the I had to static camera the deep hole where the boat was moored. So I changed cameras and lobbed a baited rig out. It landed perfectly and the scene unfolded in magnificent clear blue.

It was slow at first and I nearly jumped out of my skin as a pair of those slimy kingfish looking things came chargubg in eventually. I would’ve been stoked just with that but a few minutes later the spotted grunter arrived. Eager to sample the fresh sardine on my tiny hook.

I hooked up! For a second or so it was on! None of this was apparent from the top. Never even saw the bite. It is proven by the deployment of these cameras that as anglers, we are operating with about 1% of situation awareness!

“Enjoy the picture show boys…” – Guard, Oh Brother Where Art Though

MSC Musica is Back in Durban

More news from Mozambique…the MSC Musica is back.

Not sure how long she will be hanging around this time. But she is back from her recent round trip to Pomene up in Mozambique. This is a very safe and sound way to travel up north to experience the wonders of tropical paradise Mozambique. Not one roadblock along the way!

Viz Report From Out Deep by The Bear and Adam Kamdar

The Agulhas Current, often called the Mozambique Current, is flying right now. And at these speeds, it pushes right up against the eastern seaboard of South East Africa.

Bringing with it liquorice all sorts starting with the jube-jubes. And ending in the billfish. And all in between. Wahoo, couta, dorado…it’s all happening along the edge of the Agulhas Current and the African East coast.

This water is ink purple and HOT! Like 26 degrees and more in some patches.

Adam Kamdar was out there early making the most of the idyllic fishing conditions…

Deep Sea Fishing News

Adam Kamdar caught the ship MSC Musica on camera as she paraded past the Golden Mile this morning early – while recording a fishing and viz report for The Sardine News.

It wasn’t long after this that Adam and crew hooked a sailfish big enough to straighten the hook! A forced release – my best kind of release – don’t even have to touch the fish!

Luckily the fish were wild and after a huge morning full of fishing action out on the water, the rain sent them home smiling again.

Novi with today's catch off Durban
Novi with today’s catch off Durban

Sardines and Sighting Maps

It has been a fantastic sardine run this memorable 2024. And all the action has been logged right here on The Sardine News. This year’s map has been viewed 195,000 times and just keeps growing.

Which led us to decide to keep the map live. And keep adding unique marine animal sightings and events. That occurs non-stop all year round. This year we started to log more whale and dolphin sightings. And we even had a shipwreck! And a freaking tornado! And recently a capsized KZNSB boat! We have been updating the map with recent catches too…

These events will from now on be included in the Sardine News Sightings Map for 2024. And on the 1 January 2025, we shall start all over again.

Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. Great for a windy day like today to research. With instructions to install The Sardine News right on your phone or desktop.

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

Water Woes – complain about your municipality here

Websites

umzimkulu.co.za – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –  will get you right out and onto the edge
thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine
masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water
fishbazaruto.com – dreams
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts

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