Robbie van Wijk, deep down in Transkei, is right in the thick of things, reporting in with this sardine report, from Mapuzi.
“Sardines aren’t striped bru! They are definitely spotted! Down here on the point at Mapuzi, birds are swooping and diving, dolphins are chowing down in the little bay. One chap beautifully fought a 7kg yellowtail in off the rocks while plenty medium sized kob and big shad getting pulled out. The sardines off Mapuzi, are definitely spotted!”
Thanks Robbie!
Gannets taking some time out. This was shot yesterday of Mnyemeni, by Jay Steenkamp. Jay is full time the man on the scene wherever the sardines are…more news to follow…
“When the red hot pokers bloom, winter is upon us!” – Louis Wolmarans chanted. It was many, many years ago, but Louis still charges the KZN South Coast with more gusto than any grom. The only hassle, is that when the aloes flower like this, it’s also sardine season!
Sardine report 2015: “When the red hot pokers bloom, winter is upon us.” A chant by Louis Wolmarans
Just in from Jay Steenkamp at sea off Nyameni in the Transkei, right now:
“Glenmore has the most action. Small pockets being hammered by Gannets, which are everywhere. Just had school of bottlenose charging hard to the north with more Gannets chasing after them, diving, gorging, on sardines.
The surf is 4-5ft with a stiff offshore blowing. Sea temperature is 22 degrees.”
Thanks Jay!
So except for the slightly warmer water, the stars have lined up and it looks good for the sards to come in close and in reach. Yesterdays cast net catch of sardines in Umtentweni has got the carparks a-buzzing, and now it’s only a matter of being in the right place, at the right time.
Not sure what’s in the distance but it could be anything sardine. This photo was taken a few minutes ago, off Nyameni in the Transkei, by Jay Steenkamp, the man on the scene…
On the search for sardines – join these elegant yet swift hunters as they search the Transkei Wild Coast for signs of the elusive sardine shoals trying to sneak by un-nnoticed by the multitude of marine and human life waiting eagerly for them. Please share and enjoy the image by Rob Nettleton.
On the search for sardines…May heralds colder conditions and more westerley winds – exactly what the sardines want. Offshore Africa in Port St. Johns are practically full but have had a few cancellations right in the prime sardine and marine life sighting weeks – head on over to http://www.offshoreportstjohns.com/ to make an enquiry.
Offshore Africa Port St. Johns is run by Rob Nettleton and Debbie Smith whose combined experience will ensure your sardine run experience will be unforgettable. The team still have a few slots open for the 2015 run, but the bookings are filling up fast – click here to get in touch and onto the list!
Offshore Africa Port St. Johns invite you on an experience of a lifetime. You are welcome to share this image…please do!
Up and down the coast preparations are being made and bookings filling up as the eternal flame of hope for a good sardine run burns bright in the souls of the millions of die-hard sardine freaks. The Sardine Run 2015 is almost upon us!
This imagery by Rob Nettleton reminds us exactly of why we yearn and yearn, year after year, beer after beer…for the sardines. The chaos of it all. The sharks. The dolphins. The birds. The whales. The fish. The action!
A common dolphin parading through the battle ground full of raw sardine energy. Please share!
