Category: Report

STORY: January 2021 by The Sardine News

And so we have a story. A web story! This new fangled format from Google is a go at TikTok and Instagram and Facebook and whoever else’s – stories!

Anyway, I gave it a go, and this months roundup, is included right here below, as our very first Google Web Story.

The publishing interface was clunky and boring but when the UI guys get their shit together, it will be easy enough to use. Just another damn editor to learn!

The format can take video and gifs and the like, but for our very first effort, we just highlighted our best stories from Jan (and a bot of Dec 2020), with stills, logos and captions. And hey! Guess what? It ain’t too bad as a first time result.

Give it a go right here…

Please let me know if it did not work too good for you – your feedback is invaluable, always.

A quick gallery for the search engines and in case the Story above did not work in your browser/device.

February prognosis

February will hopefully see less rain. BUT. And it’s a big but – it is still slap bang in the middle of cyclone season and ANYTHING can and happen.

However, with so much rain that we have had so far, we can look to February with hope that the month will be more useable and that the rain will slowly slow to a stop.

That all said, the winding east winds coupled with the winding current, kind of flies the brown water away in no time now. And so the blue water is not too far away at all.

The brown water line has been producing fish and will continue to be the place to hang out for boats and skis whilst the phenomenon prevails a while longer.

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FishBazaruto 2020 Marlin Season Highlights

The FishBazaruto 2020 marlin season was made up of trips you count on your hands! We had so many cancellations!

But we are still here and good to go for 2021, you can see the updated special offers, package deals and other rates on the FishBaz website by clicking right HERE (opens in a new window).

And the highlights of the Fishbazaruto 2020 marlin season feature right here in this video! Yip, the camera was turned off stills and onto video for these spectacular and authentic marlin action shots.

And although the videos from Captain Duarte Rato and the crew up on Bazaruto Island and thereabouts a re threateennig to get longer, these short clips work just great for me!

Enjoy the picture show!

And then the gallery, of the best shots by Duarte and crew, during 2020. Lockdown and all!

And here it is…the very best of FishBazaruto 2020!

2021 Bookings are well open for FishBazaruto.com and you would do yourself well by perusing their offerings for this year.

If you cant find anything there that suits you, then get in touch with us right here at The Sardine News, and we can set up exactly what it is that you require for your dream fishing holiday.

We are on YouTube right HERE, please dont forget to subscribe!

Published by The Sardine News
https://thesardine.co.za
https://youtube.com/umzimkulu1/
https://facebook.com/thesardine.co.za/

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Tackling up for trophy estuary gamefish

This video by MYDO Fishing Lures was shot down at the Umzimkulu Marina in Port Shepstone recently. Where trophy estuary gamefish swim!

The video goes through the various criteria and options to consider when tackling up to take on outsized trophy gamefish. Plus, you may hook a shark, or anything all sorts, that you need to be loaded properly for. The video does not discuss brands at all, they hardly get a mention. But rather the requirements for the various aspects as you go along.

Light tackle as it has evolved, has opened up new horizons of possibilities as we hunt these often elusive and hard-to-catch fish. And with braid and hard line guides and reel spools, comes the power. Now a 30lb spinning outfit kitted with a few hundred metres of braid, can take on just about anything and still be in with a chance. Put 50lb and the playing fields are levelled when chasing rock salmon aka mangrove jack in the channels.

However, all this power needs to be balanced and ready for all eventualities. Therefore hook choice and leaders are also explained and discussed in relative detail.

It has been a fun video to put together, and I sincerely hope you guys enjoy at least some parts of it. And subscribe to the ever-growing channel that is The Sardine News.

A big thank you to all my current subscribers, for the motivation to produce more content. Trying for three videos a week but hells bells these things can drag out and still somehow never seem finished! Never mind the dodgy internet down here in the river valley!

Receiving video footage from anglers like Andrew Olden, Chris Woodley and Dave Phillips to mention a few – really makes it more fun too. So if you have something interesting going on, please consider sending it in to be a part of The Sardine News.

Email me Sean on umzimkulu@gmail.com. Or message me, I am still on WhatsApp for now! +27793269671.

Published by The Sardine News
https://thesardine.co.za
https://youtube.com/umzimkulu1/
https://facebook.com/thesardine.co.za/

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Cobia hooks huge kayak angler off Umtentweni

In this video story- “Cobia hooks huge kayak angler off Umtentweni”, we don’t only have a good old gasp at the cobia aka prodigal son hooking out-sized kayak angler Andrew Olden, but it’s also an excellent example of a click bait title (for the marketers amongst us).

Except it’s not. The cobia did hook Andrew, right in the leg! Whilst fishing on his kayak, off Umtentweni on the KZN South Coast, on the 31 December 2020.

It’s a great video, that emphasises staying calm in an adverse situation. Even the cobia stayed calm. Thankfully, for as you saw when he finally saw the hatch, he remembered all his moves. As they do with these fish seemingly made from one single extremely strong muscle.

Cobia have been known to damage boats and injure people flat out.

Luckily Andrew has caught a few fish before and did I mention that he is a literal giant?

These fish hardly stood a chance!

Thank you very much, Andrew, for taking the time to get the footage and story to us! And for being the stuntman in this important movie on staying calm when things go bad out at sea.

There is quite a collection of videos now built up on our YouTube Channel. Some of the old stuff is quite slow, but the pace on the newest videos is a lot faster as we adapt to current and trending viewer preferences.

Check it out at https://youtube.com/umzimkulu1/, and we are on Facebook too at https://facebook.com/thesardine.co.za/.

(c) The Sardine News

VIDEO: Fishing the brown water line with Bongani Pitoyi on the Niteshift

VIDEO: Fishing the brown water line with Bongani Pitoyi on the Niteshift

December 2020 Our guest star fisherman on this trip out on the Niteshift skippered by my Dad Brian Lange was none other than DAFF’s very own Mr.Bongani Pitoyi! And man-oh-man did Bongani choose a lekker afternoon to get out there fishing.

With a real fun crew!

Liam Gallagher did excellent work on camera and presenting duties. His Dad Ralph cheered Bongani on. And young Morrison video-bombed Liam non-stop! Talented team!

Every year this time, the brown water just never stops. It comes down the Umzimkulu and the other rivers every time it rains. And man-oh-man has it been raining! But ok, we all know that this plume is a magnificent piece of nature at work as the alkalinity in the freshwater carrying all that sediment, balances out the acidity of the ocean. A vital piece of the puzzle this brown water turns out to be.

Luckily, pelagics LOVE the brown water line. Or “seam” as fly-fishers would call it. Striped marlin and his cousins the black and blue know all about this hard drawn line between salt and fresh. And they patrol it up and down. Along with dorado, tuna and king mackerel. And if you are really lucky – yellowtail too! The gamefish are here for the hapless baitfish that get caught up in the brown water, and then pop out in confusion where a shoal of angry game fish are waiting. The billfish are after these fish! The odd shark will venture inshore in these conditions. Especially dumb hammerheads that think our couta baits are for them!?

The plume will be around for another few weeks, and every day its good, boats are dotted along its length. The strong prevailing north south current, and east winds, will keep dragging the stuff away south where it dissipates. Although many rivers are still clean or slightly clean, the main ones like the Umkomaas and the Umzimkulu, look like they will be pumping for quite some time. Last nights rains were especially soaking, albeit gentle.

We can also however, catch the huge barbel that have been observed herding mullet into the stormwater pipes at Spillers. And gulping them down by the mouthful. If you would to have a go at these VUNDU sized barbel, get in touch on +27793269671 and we can work something out.

Otherwise, after this west wind, I think it’s gonna boil out there tomorrow! See you on the colour line!

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By The Sardine News.