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Sardine Hotspots 18 June 2022: Margate, Uvongo, Saints

Sardine Run 2022 18 June 2022

Sardine Hotspots 18 June 2022: Margate, Uvongo, Saints

Sardine Hotspots 18 June 2022: Margate, Uvongo, Saints: it’s an absolute pearler of a sardine day down here on the lower south coast of KZN in South Africa.

And the nets are going in!

Yesterday it was HOT between Margate and St. Mikes. And so today it could be anywhere around here. North or South. Although early reports have been rolling in about a HUGE shoal slowly moving north past Orange Rocks, toward Saints.

Netters are on the scene and by the time you read this, there are sure to be sardines on the beach at one of these lovely spots. Everything is just so beautiful on the south coast again – a month ago it was not like this!

Net politics

Once again this year, the public have turned zombie for the most part. There are still many people with manners. But crowds go literally bezerk when they see free anything? The only thing is, that these are NOT free sardines for everyone.

No matter where they came from.

Net economics

The netters pay out an absolute fortune each year. In licenses and preparation. Hundreds of thousands of Rands. Vehicles. Boats. Fuel. Wages. And then the super expensive net at R100 000 or more!

So, no, you cannot demand or take sardines from the nets. Anything outside the net is free-for-all.

The crazy thing is, that the netters are actually really cool to the public. And even open their nest when they have recouped some of the costs involved.

Please don’t steal sardines from the netters!

Sardine forecast

Conditions are really perfect for the sardines to come in close and be netted. The recent shoals, from today that is, have been accompanied by sharks and cetacean predators.

The real good news, however, is that the big shoals are still coming!

What a lovely time to be on the KZN South Coast!

If you are looking to chase some sardines, we are fully booked this weekend…but not the next one. Check out options at the Umzimkulu Marina and at Spillers House. Where we have an Egyptian Halaal restaurant hosted at The Port Captain. With lots of things to do at Umzimkulu Adrenalin.

Keep up-to-date with the Sardine run 2022 Sightings Map freely available right HERE!

Sardine Hotspots 18 June 2022: Margate, Uvongo, SaintsSardine Hotspots 18 June 2022: Margate, Uvongo, Saints

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Sardines caught off Port Edward!

Sardines caught off Port Edward!

Sardines caught off Port Edward!

Sardines caught off Port Edward!: officially confirmed catching of 10 sardines!

Report in from Sardine Spy in Port Edward: “Fished yesterday Sean, got 10 sards in amongst the redeyes. With some lovey bottom fish too”

So there they are – the first 10 sardines in KZN this sardine run 2022!

This mornings report

This was today’s AM sardine report, as updated on the Sardine Sightings Map 2022…

15 June 2022: sea conditions coming right too!

“Big south swell arrived last night. SW wind pumping today. Some small shoals evident out deep. I think the conditions are right for shoal movement over the next few days.” – Qhora Mouth Sardine Spy

Sardines like rough seas and big winds – for travelling. Especially big SW winds. When the swells jack up – the water aerates with all that surface interaction with the atmosphere. Maybe they even surf a few of those swells to fight against the current? Either way, this is ALL very good news as the perfect sardine conditions requirements are being checked off one by one.

  • water below 19 degrees – cold water is moving up the east coast, just as we need it to
  • clean water – the current has kicked into full gear and is sweeping the poison soup away
  • rough seas – always precede the shoals

Many trigger-happy posters are claiming sardines close by. But once again, not a single sardine has been caught yet.

The dive charter operations in the Transkei have kicked off operations recently and finally, we might get some close-ups from them.

Finally

So well spell has been broken and you can definitely start doing sardine patrols down to the lower south coast reaches.

When you come down this way, and you feel like something completely different to eat, join us at The Port Captain for an Egyptian eating experience. And if you are after fun accommodation right on the water – The Umzimkulu Marina and Spillers House are open for business. And Umzimkulu Adrenalin can get you right out there!

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NO Sardine Report 13 June 2022 – but the water temperature is dropping finally

13 June Sardine Report 2022 - water temp is dropping

NO Sardine Report 13 June 2022 – but the water temperature is dropping finally

Introduction: Why is the water temperature finally dropping?

Many factors are at play here. Upwellings from east winds. Countercurrents. More…which we do not understand fully at all. And the fact that this happened literally overnight is all the more amazing.

A wedge of cold water was moving up past East London yesterday and the day before. But the charts are showing none of it. Maybe this is a localised patch of cold?

Predictions for Sardine Run 2022

Things are really looking up with the water at 18.5 degrees in Port Edward this morning. The backline water is also cleaning up rapidly.

Some decent-sized shoals of sardines were hanging around Port Elizabeth this entire past week. Gannets were waiting in earnest ambush in the Qhora area. Deep Transkei.

In KZN, many shoals of red-eye sardines and mackerel can be spotted. This is a great relief since these guys were all missing completely around here. Right up until the last couple of days. Fact is, these baitfish also like clean water at around 19 degrees.

So the verdict from this Sardine Report 13 June…

So keep your eyes peeled!

Some scenes from LAST year…

The big daga salmon have made their annual pilgrimage up to KZN, to lie in wait for the sardines
sardines to report
Sardines sightings 2021: Greg Hill snapped us this photo of the action at Hibberdene this arvo

What are the Potential Effects of Low Water Temperatures on Fishing?

Kob and garrick are known to love 19 degrees Celsius water too. Shad also don’t mind the cooler conditions. Even down to 17 and we are still in with a shout.

Cooler water is not a bad thing here in KZN during the sardine season.

? Tip: check out the MYDO web page at https://thesardine.co.za/mydo/ to get properly prepared for the upcoming fesitival of fishing. Spoons and dropshots will be the order of the day. Over the next few lovely months.

To get out there amongst the action – Umzimkulu Adrenalin in Port Shepstone is on stand-by for you right now.

Stay with us on the south coast during the idyllic winter weather this place is renowned for. Umzimkulu Marina and Spillers House are both on the water of the Umzimkulu Estuary in Port Shepstone, KZN.

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11 June 2022 Sardine Report – Where are the sardines? Port Elizabeth!

11 June Sardine Report Where are the sardines in Port Elizabeth

11 June 2022 Sardine Report: Where are the sardines? Port Elizabeth

11 June 2022 Sardine Report (one day late): Where are the sardines?: well they are in Port Elizabeth.

But they ARE on their way!

Our newest news anchor Roda Reel takes us through the current sitrep regards sardines coming up our coastline.

Featuring…

Mr. Adam.Kamdar – reporting with Lotus FM. And. The Bear!

Yip, The Bear is back in the water! And today he tells of his encounter with a baby great white shark. Yip! Be careful what’s with those dolphins. They attract all sorts of rabble. Not just tuna. Turns out this guy surprised The Bear aka Jason Heyne as he was hunting for yellowfin tuna behind the dolphins this morning (well yesterday morning). Luckily the shark was a cruiser and just swam right by The Bear!

Ok…the video…sponsored by – The Fishing Pro Shop.

11 June 2022 Sardine Report

Patience

That’s all we need. The fish are about two weeks away. But nobody knows for sure what could happen. With the idyllic conditions we are being treated to this weekend, anything could go down.

In the meantime, go catch your daily bag limit of 4 shad.

Hope

Yes, we still need some of that too! Although the brown water has disappeared completely in some places. So things are really looking up!

Even the spearos are back in. Great whites and all!.

Cold water

Yip, it’s got to go down from the 23 it is now, to at least 19 degrees Celsius. Sardines like cold water. There is a sliver of cold water creeping up the coast towards us and the Transkei. This is the ticket for the sardines to ride.

Sardine Spotters

In the meantime, this is where you will be getting the sardine truth this year. We have allied with many other bona fide groups and individuals in the sardine spotting game. And our own sardine spies are dedicated and loyal to the last sardine.

Sardine Map 2022

This is the one place to check each and every time you go hunting for sardines.

Click HERE to get to the map.

Click HERE to get out amongst the action.

Click HERE for somewhere to stay on the KZN South Coast.

Click HERE to safely buy tackle online from The Fishing Pro Shop.

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First sardines 2022 season have been spotted!

First sardines 2022 season have been spotted!

First sardines 2022 season have been spotted!

Confirmed sightings have been reported in from between East London and Mazeppa, by to Brad the Pilot. Who flew that area early this morning. Then at Qora Mouth, validated sightings were made deeper off the coast. With bird activity being reported as odd – gannets flying up and down as if the sardines are already everywhere.

Prognosis

According to the many sardine spies and reporters stationed up and down the South African east coast, we have a problem. It is not permanent.But it is playing a big role in why we are having little to no sardine action close in and towards KZN Natal at the moment (last year this time nets were already in)

And it’s…

Dirty water!

Yip, that poison soup left behind after the two floods we recently survived, is not going away. There just has not been enough current to move the huge plume of septic runoff down the coast like usual. It is still siff brown right up and down the coast.

A spearo therapy business would take off right now.

Huge surf

The other factor has been the absolutely huge surf pounding the coastline recently. It has been relentless along the entire coastline.

Only a calm sea will entice those little guys int the shallows.

Warm water

24 Degrees on most days that I have been out there. Sardines like it cold. Like own to 19 or so. We will need a few days of east winds to cause the upswelling that drops the temperatures to these levels.

And then we need a few days of gentle west winds to calm the ocean.

So these three factors together could be the reason we ain’t seeing any sardines close in. And that the likely conclusion is that the sardines are already here and travelling north.

Very far out to sea.

Only when we can tick off all the required conditions as explained above, is when we may see some sardines on the beaches!

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