There were a few crates of sardines netted at Mbango yesterday.
The wild ocean this past week, the cold, and the weather have all played along, and so – it is realistic to expect some sardine action further north up the KZN Natal coastline, this week.
The crew from Offshore Africa in Port St. Johns had their biggest day out yesterday. The baitballs they have been encountering are becoming shoals, as more and more sardines make their way up the coast.
Check out one of the latest video posts from Offshore Africa…
So it’s definitely not the time to be losing hope. The fish in this video are headed our way. And it seems that the ocean patrol dudes have got their game on, as no more trawler reports have been coming in.
Now the sards just need to get by all those angry looking gannets!
The Sardine Report 2017 was sponsored by…
Sardine and Shad Report 2017 sponsored by Pelagic available at fishingsfinest.co.zambango
We are now in touch with the right people – Senior Marine Conservation Inspectors with DAFF, to whom any sightings of suspected trawlers, can be reported.
But there is some procedure to follow, that filters out any legitimate vessels.
SO, when you see a suspected trawler…
Log onto http://marinetraffic.com on the internet, or onto your AIS cellphone App. Click here to choose one if you need one still.
Locate the area where your suspect ship is, and see if there a corresponding ship icon, for your suspect
If there is no AIS icon visible, please report to…
 The DAFF vessel operating in that area – The Ruth First, is in the area off the Transkei, where most of the suspect activity has been noted lately. Their number is 079 773 6514 and Inspector Teyise is on board right now.
Our contacts, Senior Marine Conservation Inspector Mr. Bongani Pitoyi is on 071 765 2533, and is extremely helpful.
Another number you can call is deputy director Mr Moshani on 076 780 5049.
SO, please keep your eyes on your horizon, and help us iron out what is actually going on out there.
On Trawler Watch 2017!
EXTRA: Check the following video documentary, to see how much mechanisation is used by commercial fishing trawlers…slow and shaky, but you get the picture fair enough. And it is in Iceland. But the same technology can be deployed against fish anywhere in the world. Including our waters. And why we need to be on the lookout. Next thing we buying our own mackerel and sardines in tins marked Made in China!
Sardine activity intensifies: Sardine report 17 July 2017
After the wild weather and waves of the last week, the sardine activity being reported from down in the Transkei, is intensifying. More sardines. More dolphins. More birds. More fish. More everything!
This in from Debbie Smith way down in the Port St. Johns area…
“Its been a cracker of a season. still baitballs today. south west has blown for 2 days, surf is a bit gnarly, viz is abit low, surprising for after the swest but water temp is a steady 19.5.”
But Jay Steenkamp of the Natal Sharks Board received very little sardine news today so far.
With the adverse weather caused by a trio of cold fronts moving across the country and up the coastline, the air temperature has plummeted. So now we have a few more things lining us up for some sardines up in KZN. Steady 19 degrees water and cold air are two vital ingredients.
For the first time this year really too, birds were seen patrolling the backline, in tight formation – on the KZN Lower South Coast.
Now with the next cold front forcing it’s way through to here by about Wednesday or Thursday, this is no time to be giving up hope!
Eyes on the horizon!
Some action from the Offshore Africa team…who are taking bookings for next years Sardine Run front row seats.
The Sardine Report 2017 has been made possible by Fishing’s Finest in Pretoria. Distributors of Pelagic Fishing Gear.
Like great author and eye opener – Callum Roberts, author of “The Ocean of Life: The Fate of Man and the Sea”  and other tales of environmental gloom and doom, Mr. Al Spaeth, in his description of the state of our oceans and our fisheries, has the ability to put things way into perspective.
Read his shocking synopsis of our particular piece of ocean’s predicament, at the following link…
Mr. Spaeth is particularly focused on our South African waters and their fisheries. But this is happening, and has happened, all over the globe, in so many other ignorant countries. Where greedy and ignorant governments and their parastatals, give away the resources of their people, in exchange for under the table rewards or incentives.
His call-to-action, to mimic the CCA (Coastal Conservation Association ), in the United States, is our only chance. They are a very effective watchdog association of anglers in the United States, that campaign for the fish and the environment, as well as educate the public fishing community at large. On pertinent environmental issues at hand. And we have many. The sardines, squid, and tuna that Mr. Spaeth addresses, are just three. What about the plight of the poor shad this year?! No DAFF’s anywhere?! Bucket loads leaving the beach.
The CCA in America is the type of organisation Mr. Al Spaeth is advocating
This is what they do over there, very successfully…
ON A LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL WE…
• Initiate scientific studies. • Fund marine-science scholarships. • Build artificial reefs. • Create finfish hatcheries. • Monitor the quality and quantity of freshwater inflows. • Support local marine law enforcement. • Help establish game fish status for recreational species. • Work to prohibit destructive commercial gear.
ON A FEDERAL LEVEL WE…
• Defend net bans. • Work to implement bycatch reduction regulations. • Support pro-fisheries legislation. • Battle arbitrary no-fishing zones.
You can read all about them and their successes against their government at this link…
Anybody else keen to get involved, and has the time and resources, jump in now by filling out the form below…I have been in touch with the CCA, and they are prepared to assist. We just need some momentum. In the meantime we are calling the movement CCASAÂ (Coastal Conservation Association of Southern Africa). If there are any other established or fledgling groups like the CCA, already operating in South Africa, Namibia or Mozambique, please let me know on umzimkulu@gmail.com.
Jason Heyne checks in with his weekly spearing report – this week featuring some eagerly awaited for daga salmon. They are also here for sardines, and the big ones are often caught from the shore, right in the shallows! Just please be considerate with this fragile population. The big ones are our breeding stock, and we need them alive! Take your one for the season by all means – they are a very difficult fish to catch or shoot. But leave the rest for next year! TX Jason
“The diving conditions this week have been above average. Daga salmon have made an appearance in the shallows down south, big garrick up north and decent wahoo out deep. Saturday and Sunday a light offshore wind blows in the morning switching to a light on shore in the afternoon. Swell starts at 1.5m on Saturday dropping down to 1m on Sunday. Both days are looking top for a dive. Well done John on getting fish of the week a 24.5kg daga salmon on a shore dive. Good luck to all competing in the second day of natal champs tomorrow. Viz was reported north and south today. As always dive safe and straight spears.” – Jason
