Category: Southern Cape

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Sardine Update 21 June 2022

Sardine Update 21 June 2022

Sardine Update 21 June 2022

Sardine Update 21 June 2022: another beautiful KZN south coast winter day! And the sardines just keep coming! Net after net. Day after day. And it’s only just begun.

Presumably, the foul ocean conditions that were holding them back, have given way, and the sardines jumped at the chance to head north. Without doubt, these are just the first shoals. The ‘pilot shoals’ as they are affectionately known.

This is The Sardine News on YouTube yesterday…some fun stuff for you to check out…and stay up to speed with.

Sardine Update 20 June 2022

Visit our channel over there. Like and subscribe. And you will see a little sardine dinner bell too. Hit that!

The Sardine News on YouTube

Predators

Are not usually with these first appearances. Except for shad obviously! Who absolutely annihilate these cute little shoals. The predators normally come in the second wave of sardines. The bigger shoals. And it’s the sharks that are first most times.

And they are definitely here right now – check the video above! They would have been waiting here a while already. They certainly don’t mind the dirty water either.

So far this week already, we’ve had killer whales (more affectionately known as Orcas), chasing some poor little dolphins all over the place. Humpbacks were here already a month ago. A few seals have beached for a break at some beaches too. Gannets, terns and all sorts of feathered sardine hunters are earnestly patrolling north and south.

The entire marine food chain is here.

Including the garrick. Nobody caught any yet really. I only saw one pic so far. But make no mistake, they are here.

North or South?

Durban’s main beaches must surely be on the itinerary for the current wave of pilot shoals. Although the really big shoals are still lumbering through the Transkei Wild Coast.

Luckily all conditions are met. The water is chilly at 19 degrees celsius or so. The ocean is lumpy with swell but well-useable. The only deterrent is the remaining and quite persistent poison soup water inshore. Still hanging about from the flood and sewage runoff recently. Although some places are definitely showing signs of clarity – just not enough to jump in yet.

Gallery

If you do come sardine hunting down the lower south coast of KZN in South Africa, pop in at the Umzimkulu Adrenalin building. Right in Port Shepstone down on the Umzimkulu River. Where you can eat at our Egyptian Restaurant. Stay over at the Umzimkulu Marina.

And we can take you out to the action.

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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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Busting the Spotted Grunter on camera in the Umzimkulu Estuary

Busting the Spotted Grunter

Busting the Spotted Grunter on camera in the Umzimkulu Estuary

Busting the Spotted Grunter on camera in the Umzimkulu Estuary: after a couple of years of using these GoFish underwater cameras now, we are still learning how to get the best results…

Spotted Grunter busted!

But this past Friday saw a revelation, as we finally busted those wily spotted grunter hunting along the first bank on the incoming tide in the Umzimkulu Estuary. It took a lucky cast to land the camera (simply attached to my line) in the crystal clear water, just as the shoal of hunting fish idled past. In full attack formation.

Spotted Grunter flashing on the sandbank Umzimkulu Estuary
Spotted Grunter on the sandbank Umzimkulu Estuary
Spotted Grunter on the sandbank Umzimkulu Estuary
The Umzimkulu Estuary mouth is great for grunter fishing

It’s all about learning

Seeing these fish in their natural environment also makes it clear why you are not getting any bites. These fish are in position, completely focused, waiting to ambush the prawns and fry that come rushing in out-of-control, with the tide.

The water is moving so fast here in the shallows of the estuary mouth – you can see quite clearly what you need to be doing, to get these fish to take an interest, and strike.

And about conservation

In fact, as an alternative to fishing with bait or lures, I quite truthfully, enjoy this more. It’s an absolutely thrilling feeling when, after scrubbing hours of video, a gamefish comes into plain view. In its completely natural habitat. Free-swimming!

And I get to watch it over and over again!

It is much better than catching and killing the fish, to me personally. And I do think this is really going to take off and revolutionise sport-fishing as we know it today.

Slow start

The uptake on fishing cameras has been slow. I only know one other guy in this whole country (South Africa) who has one! Captain Digby Smith has been sending his camera down to the depths off Port Shepstone and has a load of video saved up for me to scrub!

However, the cameras on offer today are so smart and capable and produce such amazing pictures, that soon most guys will be sporting a cam in their box.

GoFish Cameras

The camera used in this video was my GoFish camera, which I have been using for a couple of years now. I have caught so many fish with it! Couta, marlin, tuna…actually everything by now. These clips are the foundations for most of my YouTube channels.

I use them for everything! Their size and relative toughness, make them really adaptable to any situation.

And! You can get them right here on The Sardine News. Using the link below…

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Or click on this link.

The Sardine News and the Master Watermen websites are powered by TLC for your Business. Where things get done!

More fun sites for you to check out…

https://umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za

https://fishontheriver.co.za

https://portcaptain.co.za

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Ocean Safari with Chelsea Dog and the B2 Humpback Whales

On Ocean Safari with Umzimkulu Adrenalin and Chelsea Dog

Ocean Safari with Chelsea Dog and the B2 Humpback Whales

Ocean Safari with Chelsea Dog and the B2 Humpback Whales: Dr. Oz Goffman (Head dolphin project of Haifa University -IMMRAC – The Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies/School of Marine Sciences) spends his life stalking and saving cetaceans of all kinds and in all places. But specifically these guys. The B2 population. And the C1 guys. These are the ever-entertaining humpback whale communities that visit us, and Mozambique, this time each year. (see graphic by Dr. Oz and colleagues below…secret intel for undercover whale spotters like the Umimkulu Adrenalin operation).

Ocean Safari intel: The Indian Ocean gets bombarded every winter here, by a healthy population of humpback whales. These marine mammals may seem plentiful at times but are still not back to the numbers they should be. Image courtesy of Dr. Oz Goffman and colleagues.
Ocean Safari intel: The Indian Ocean gets bombarded every winter here, by a healthy population of humpback whales. These marine mammals may seem plentiful at times but are still not back to the numbers they should be. Image courtesy of Dr. Oz Goffman (Head dolphin project of Haifa University -IMMRAC – The Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies/School of Marine Sciences) and colleagues.
Dr. Oz Goffman

When I worked with Dr. Oz in the deep blue waters out off Bazaruto Island in Mozambique for a few years, we were covertly recording mother to calf humpback whale conversations. We spent literally months and months stalking these guys. So when I say Dr. Oz knows these guys by name, I do not mean literally (see the album slide in the video).

He knows them by name.

The B2 Bombers

Down here on the lower south coast of Kwazulu Natal in South Africa, we are perfectly poised to encounter the B2 bombers, travelling south to Cape Town, at this time of the year. This is their highway to Slaapstad, on their way to stopping off a while at Hermanus for a traditional jol.

And so it was really cool that we got another Ocean Safari booking this week. And this time we were far more camera-ready. Although we missed the ever-eventful launch (and this time was no different, it was wild!), the rest of the camera work went down a treat and the featured video almost made it out there yesterday!

Yep! Dr. Oz knows these guys by name. He has dedicated his life to looking after these enthralling ocean-going mammals, and other cetaceans of all kinds, all over the world.
Yep! Dr. Oz knows these guys by name. He has dedicated his life to looking after these enthralling ocean-going mammals, and other cetaceans of all kinds, all over the world.

On this trip, we actually only saw this one whale. But man did he perform. Launching right out clear into the air at times. We managed to get a few clips but our guests got the gold.

Umzimkulu Adrenalin

The Umzimkulu Adrenalin operation has fired up on the south bank of the Umzimkulu River. At the picturesque and bustling Spiller’s Wharf riverside shopping and business complex in Port Shepstone. This place is really quaint and historical with lots to absorb and learn about the history of the Umzimkulu River all over the place. It’s a very interesting building. There is even a 100-year-old boat parked in the driveway!

‘To all our previous clients, who have sent us their whale videos last week, we are busy compiling all the bits and pieces and will have yours out soon I promise!’

Sean

Ocean safaris, deep-sea fishing, river cruises, thrill rides, day fishing are all on offer at Umzimkulu Adrenalin. Come and see us, we are right at the back of the centre (Mr. Spiller’s old house).

Or…

Call Sean on +27 79 326 9671 or email umzimkulu@gmail.com.

More on https://thesardine.co.za and https://masterwatermen.co.za.

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