The lower south coast was reported in quiet for tsontwsanes(Pondo word for sardines) this morning. But Jay Steenkamp reports plenty humpback whale activity. The migration is in full swing.
But the big news was dialled in by Robbie van Wijk who reports masses of sardines with wild activity, off Mapuzi right close to Coffee Bay!
Photos please Robbie!
And here it is…the 32.7kg kob / daga salmon, that literally stripped Mike Stubbs down to his reel knot. Fortunately the highly experienced Shaun Posthumous was on the scene. He ran up and down getting water to splash on the reel as it heated up?!
A long tussle ensued with Mike emerging victorious, and the huge fish was eventually dragged up the Sandspit beach.
Overall, the same situation prevails. There are plenty sardines, but they are spread far and wide with action not concentrated in any one area.
In from Jay Steenkamp, in the air, on the beach and in the water…
“Sea is looking awesome today with light SW and swell has dropped to about 3ft. Some 20 odd gannets diving in the brown water on backline at Peter Pan next to T.T. Strand. No sards on the surface boiling, they are sitting deep and trying to hide from predators”
“Mark Snyman netted at Skiboat Bay this morning. Not sure of details as I was surfing. Also netted at Park Rynie”
“Unreal sea conditions with light offshore and small surf. Just the viz is off colour. Loads of shad being caught off the Sandspit and nearly every other good fishing spot. It’s hard to believe that this is mid winter with such lekka weather”
Thanks Jay!
And then from our intrepid underwater scribe – Darrell Hattingh
“Phew, day of fortunes and losses. Braved and early morning swim at Ifafa Point despite Corey Versluis having seen a 3m Great White there yesterday. Duffed a nice snoek in the twilight and as I was still venturing out, a smallish garrick comes by, and while I am stringing it a shoal of big salmon surround me. Shot a nice grunter.
Then closer to home, in Hibberdene area, as I swam out a shoal of 30+ Garrick surrounded me. I shot the biggest one and it just broke my spear right in half! Got some crays and then as I swam in, got dealt with by 3 huge shoreys in a row. Ha ha!”
Thanks Darrell!! Keep it coming…
Then, Debbie Smith from Offshore Africa Port St. Johns…
” A stunning weather day today, despite the south westerly coming through this morning. News of loads of bird and sardine action sighted south of Rame Head (our area) has us hugely excited as our clients arrive tomorrow and we officially start our sardine run…”
From Mdumbi…
“Blue shad coming out every day. Lots of sardines sighted travelling north, but way out deep.”
So the sards are still around and the fishing is excellent. What are you waiting for?!?!
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!
“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!
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.
