The word in the carpark, up and down the KZN coastlines is that we should not give up hope, for a second coming, of sardines this year.
Where are the sardines 2015? Jay Steenkamp took this shot of the first few nets being thrown successfully, in the beginning of the season.
In fact, today brought with it an entirely new ocean, with lovely polished swells coming out of the south, a stiff offshore breeze, and most excitingly, birds. Gannets and terns were buzzing the bay off Port Shepstone, some deep diving going on. It was too difficult to see what exactly had the birds so piqued, but they in turn, attracted no less than 7 boats, from the Shelley Beach ski-boat competition, being run out of there, this week. Looking for a big ‘couta, or live bait, to start with…it’s been many a moon since we saw so many boats on the backline. Looked like the couta seasons back when there still were some couta left around here (they have been spotted, in numbers, in the Meditaranean, in case you were getting worried).
Environmentally we have all the right conditions forecast, to bring the sea temperature down (howling easterlies predicted for this week), and then to come through with big seas, from the south – this is the front that brings us our strongest chance of netting a few more sards.
So, later in July and early August, and sometimes they even only come through in September!?
Our first panorama of the trip was taken by Johnny van Biljon, very early, at Mdumbi, in the Transkei. The shad never materialised this morning, but the evening before, 47 in total were pulled out.
The Wild Coast to Port Alfred by Panorama
Having Johnny van Biljon along on this trip (distributing Mydo’s and gathering news), with his iPhone 5, has opened up a whole new way of capturing the moment. Johnny, who has had many years experience in the film and tv industries, has an eye for a great scene a good shot.
Our Mdumbi friends Warren and Noli enjoy the view down to Umtata Mouth and beyond, from their stoep.
Johnny is currently dabbling in panoramic photography such as what has made the iPhone (Ok and Android) smartphones so nifty.
As we drove through the Transkei, we stopped for a few more spectacular vistas.
The bridge over the Umtata River as shot by Johnny van Biljon and his handy iPhone 5, in panorama mode.
And then finally into the spectacular scene that was Port Alfred on an upcoming moon and an outgoing tide.
The Royal Alfred Marina as viewed from Willows Camping on the south bank. Millionaire’s view for a song (R130 per night). And garrick (leeries around here) swimming up and down out front, in the crystal clear water.
Although the fish were easily seen, they were very shy in the crystal clear water. The visibility must have been 10 metres or more. We threw all sorts at them, and were not alone as local spinning mad anglers lined the jetties and hot spots. Very nice fishing. One guy got a strong pull on a live mullet right in front of us, but garrick are highly suspicious and this one must have felt something because he let go after a good 10 meter screaming run.
The office set up, the lines out, and the braai on the go. All we need now are some garrick to get hungry as us.
Local veteran of these waters, and our fishing host Peter, gave us the rundown on what fish are here right now and its Silver Steenbras / Pignose Grunter / Steenies / White Steenbras that are causing the scene. The biggest so far this season, in the canals, was 14kg’s.
Kelly’s Beach is a Blue Flag spot a few kms south of the Port Alfred piers. Safe looking.
Kelly’s Beach offers much safer bathing and even surfing (on the right tides and swells), and half way between Port Alfred and Kelly’s, is Halfway – another ominous resemblance to a surf spot.
More panoramas to follow, as we tour back to KZN. And here, our parting shot…saying good bye to the attractive coastal town, of Port Alfred. Thanks Johhny van Biljon for stepping up as photographer/DOP.
Good night and good bye Port Alfred…panoramas by Johnny van Biljon
Newsflash: Sports n All in Port Alfred, officially stock Mydo Lures.
Chelsifire (aka Chelsea aka Smellsea) gave us her rendition of ‘Miss You’, by The Rolling Stones. Chelsea is a long serving member of thesardine.co.za staff, her focus mainly on quality control and sales.
She is also a mean fishing dog and has pounced on many a hapless ‘couta, tuna, dorado…as it hit the deck. She also howls like this when a rod goes, the best ratchet sound I ever heard. It’s like a joy filled siren.
Chelsea has done many seasons at sea, her favourite fishing grounds are the Inhambane waters between Praia do Rocha and Pomene. She has helped boat quite a few marlin. She loves the water, and at one point, when we passed an island, she just jumped off, of her own accord, and swam ashore?!
Her best bait is a freshly crushed ghost crab. She can murder 5 in a 5 seconds, when the moon is full. Her pet hates (ha ha) are terns (my favourite birds), and she could chase them up and down the Barra peninsula all day long. I think she suspects by now that the mightily intelligent tern has been purposely leading her into the shore-break at full speed, all this time?
2015 Sardine Run sunrise by Jay Steenkamp. Jay has his finger right on the pulse, and as soon as anything is to report, will send us the news. Thanks Jay!
As the sardines go into hiding they leave behind shoals of eager predator fish and carparks full of eager fisherfolk chasing them. Shad still dominate the scene at most places but in some spots, like Port Alfred, they are annoyingly absent. They also have been breaking the norm by becoming nocturnal this year. Even where there are no lights to attract them, like at Mdumbi in the Transkei, the shad come on the bite as soon as the sun disappears, or appears?!
A Whatsapp image in from Mdumbi in the Transkei, Where Gebengana Khayalethu has been klapping the shad with his #1 MYDO Luck Shot Mini, every early morning and late evening. Love your work Gebengana!
In Port Shepstone and surrounds a few nice garrick have been caught and more speared as the spearos enjoy a bumper run of bigger fish, this year. Aside from Mike Stubbs really good fish from last week, it’s been small salmon, as we wait for the moon to come round. The real garrick run has not started at all, we await with ‘baited’ breath.
Grunter recently shot off Chakas Rock in Umtentweni
Grunter have been all over the place but a barrage of flatties (skates) have been causing trouble in most estuaries, with the perfect baits, meant for grunter. In Port Alfred, where thesardine.co.za team currently is, there is one particular local flatties that goes a few square metres, and has been wreaking havoc up and down the marina. The big news here is the Pignose Grunter / White Steenbras, or Steenies as they are very affectionately known here, have infiltrated the canals. The biggest reported so far was 14 kgs! Garrick are also cruising the canals for mullet and last night could be seen herding them out of Kiddies pool and into the awaiting ambush. Port Alfred is a spectacular fishing destination wih something for everyone. Shark fishing is a big attraction!? And so are the waves?
The north coast of KZN has also had sporadic sardine action and with it, the gamefish. Snoek and couta are taking a hammering and the odd couta has even been gracing the gallery. Check out Jason Heyne’s recent report here.
Well, it’s the calm before the storm on the southern east coast of Africa today. Temperatures are way down, as the next cold front, the one that brings the sardines, comes into focus.
Well the elusive little sardines have pulled a characteristic vanishing act. In fact the red eyes are back in the picture causing mild sensation at Park Rynie. Netters bagged a whole shoal on Wednesday.
Shad are also decidedly quiet this morning. Yesterday it was one every five minutes. But the average size has dropped down a few notches.
Its not really the right tides for salmon either at the moment. These quietening neap tides are almost over though…and there is always the hope of a stray garrick.
The biggest news of the season here on the lower south coast of kwazulu natal, was Dean Winn, on a rapala test run, after midnight, on the weekend. He got a certifiable kob smash right in the shorebreak just before he was to pull his lure out of the water. A big fish. And on light tackle, Dean set in for the battle. Which lasted over two hours. Up and down the Sandspit until finally a 150 plus kilogram zambezi lay on the beach, beat. Dean chucked it back after a stern talking to and gave up fishing for the night. Photo to follow…
Correspondents Jay Steenkamp and Debbie Smith are also rather quiet this morning. But, this is what the sardines do. Here the one day. Gone the next. Until bang. They come back in force.
