22 June 2023 4 PM Video Report and Sardine Conditions Update
22 June 2023 4 PM Video Report and Sardine Conditions Update: The swells never backed off as they might have. But the ocean was smooth and you could see for miles. The water is slightly warm but we’ll take it! Netters are succeeding at some beaches like Scottburgh and Rocky Bay. There are very many sardines about the coastline right now.
4 PM Video Report
10:39 AM
“Lots of Sardine on the move.
Spotted at Scottburgh, Park Rynie, Pumula, Palm Beach.
Two netters at Scottburgh, might try to net.”
From Goolam 10:39am.
9 AM
10 Crates were netted at Rocky Bay this morning already.
There are sardines up and down the backline at Pumula, some getting washed in – check out Sharks Bay and Umzumbe while you are there.
Black Tip Shark Behaviour
Shoal after shoal of sardines were spotted between Port St. Johns and Ntafuf yesterday. Where dive operators are experiencing it all from right up close. Incredible underwater scenes. And over water as blacktip sharks take to the air in frustration.
This scene is best unpacked by photographer John Costello, who hails from the Wild Coast…
“The leaping sharks depicted in that wonderful series of images leaping from the water are the Black Tip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) a fast and aggressive coastal shark that does aerial leaps out of the water.
They are dark grey or blue to brown on the dorsal side with a white ventral side and a white band across the flank. The pectoral fins, first and second dorsal fins, pelvic fins, and lower caudal lobes are black-tipped. The maximum reported length of the blacktip shark is 2.55 m (8.3 ft.); the average adult size is around 1.5 m (4.9 ft.) and weighs about 18 kg (40 lbs).
Blacktip sharks are world travellers, migrating seasonally between Brazil and Nova Scotia, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, throughout the Mediterranean, and along the central West coast of Africa. In the Indian Ocean they range from South Africa and Madagascar up to the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, throughout India’s coast, and east to the coast of China. They are very prevalent during the annual sardine run off the Wild Coast.
They can be found in both inshore and offshore waters, but they tend to stay close to the coasts at depths of 30 or less. Despite being often seen near river mouths, and bays, they do not penetrate far into freshwater. It is a fast, and strong shark and has been known to bite humans in shallow water.
Leaping out of the water and spinning several times is typical behaviour for a Black Tip. Often these leaps are the end action of a feeding run when they move toward the water’s surface through schools of small fish and their momentum catapults them into the air. It is one of the few sharks that have the ability to spin in the air.” – John Costello
Thank you John!
If you really want to see some amazingly cool pics, this is the place.
ALL this action is headed our way. Things might happen, even today…stay posted for mid-morning updates using the app, and map, as instructed below.
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…
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!
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.
Surf Launching Southern Africa
Water Woes (best said in Afrikaans)
