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3,2,1 June 2023 Sardine Report from the Wild Coast

3,2,1 June 2023 Sardine Report from the Wild Coast: Kevin from Salt Fishing South Africa is way down in Qhora near Mazeppa Bay, deep Transkei Wild Coast. From here Kevin sees everything. And his wealth of sardine knowledge never lets us down.

Kevin is backed up by Salt Fishing South Africa colleague Jefferson in East London. Together these guys know exactly what is going on with the sardines this year and every year.

And its a LOT!

We are also joined by Jason of the spearfishing website Mater Watermen. Another great place to pick up intel. Jason reveals what is going on up north with the BUS couta run that is going on right now. Kayak anglers making the most of their stealth rigs to get right in amongst the fish.

And by Alan in Port Shepstone keeping a tab on the shad and things, at The Block and surrounds.

Kob: There are lots of tasty little koblets swimming up and down the SKZN beaches right now. Happily taking a lure, this is a lot of fun. And in amongst the kob bites, come the odd big shad!

Garrick: Although came out almost two weeks, it has been a bit quiet since then. Those garrick must be down south getting in on the early sardine action.

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Sardine Synopsis 3 June 2023

The Kayser Beach shoal, which was producing sensational sardine action a week ago, has reappeared. It was deep off East London yesterday. Reportedly still sticking together. And HUGE! With every predator present and accounted for.

This slow-moving rather large shoal might enter the Transkei Wild Coast waters this weekend. Where Kevin from Qhora is eagerly awaiting their arrival. Which will be reported to us and the sightings will make it onto our 2023 Sardine Run Sightings Map. Where you can monitor and even compare the year-on-year progress of previous sardine runs. Compared to this year.

Check out the previous years’ maps…

2022 Sardine Run Map

2021 Sardine Run Map

And then this years map…

2023 Sardine Run Map 

Did you know?

With just a few clicks, you can install The Sardine News as an app on your phone. And receive notifications of sightings and other goings on. As the Sardine Run 2023 unfolds.

The Sardine News app is a PWA (Progressive Web App), just like Twitter and Tinder are. It is super lightweight taking up only a tiny bit of space on your device. As the information is all in the cloud.

This just means that you just need to be online to receive updates and news.

To install…go to https://thesardine.co.za on your phone or tablet…

• on Android phones, a prompt pops up sometimes asking if you would like to install
• if it doesn’t, then you can use the browser menu (three little dots) to find the option to Install to Desktop
• Apple is much the same thing
• it even installed on my Windows 11 desktop!

If you choose to allow Notifications, BANG you are in the game! Each and every validated sardine sighting right to your cellphone or device.

Neva miss a single sard with The Sardine News.

Umzimkulu Adrenalin can get you right out there and into the mix. You can stay with us at the Umzimkulu Marina, here in Port Shepstone. The epi-centre of the KZN leg of the annual sardine run!

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Sardine Report 2023 May 21 from Qhora

Thank you Kevin from Salt Fishing South Africa.

Our very first YouTube Sardine Report 2023!

Luckily we have Salt Fishing South Africa correspondent Kevin all the way down past Mazeppa Bay and in the very deep Transkei Wild Coast. At a place called Qhora Mouth. Where Kevin can see the early stages of every sardine run unfold.

This year, once again, like last year, is being affected by dirty water. Dirty water from the storm runoff of the last few heavy rainfalls we have recently experienced right up and the eastern seaboard of Southern Africa. And dirty water from our very own failed municipalities that pump sewage willy-nilly into the ocean whenever they feel like it.

Counter Currents

When the very powerful Agulhas Current, which flows down from Mozambique and northern waters, is held out to sea by a high-pressure weather system (north easterlies), the inshore waters become a counter current. The cold water upwells in these conditions too. Ideal for dispersing pollutants and all sorts, that are being pumped into the ocean, EVERYWHERE, by ALL municipalities here in KZN.

Stay in the Blue

And watch that big cloud bank that sometimes sits on the horizon. And sometimes moves right in (low-pressure systems), the water warms, cleans up, and its all business as usual.

Lately, however, that current and its associated cloud bank have been way to sea. Luckily last week though, from the 7th to the 14th, saw the low-pressure systems dominating. And man oh man did we see and shoot a helluva lot of fish during the well-timed 2023 spearfishing nationals. Well almost lucky, more about that to follow…Umzimkulu Adrenalin has all those stories btw at https://umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za.

But when it ain’t blue, stay out of the water. There are also sorts of pathogens and viral horribles that are also being pumped into the ocean with the raw sewage. Daily. And all this stuff, in the high pressures, get trapped in the counter currents and upwellings and are very well distributed from bathing beach to beach. Where eager and unsuspecting tourists are lured into falling victim to the terrible consequences of staph or other types of infection so rife these days.

More at https://thesardine.co.za

Sardine Report 2023 May 21 from Qhora also features in the 2023 Sardine Report Sightings Map available right HERE>

Boland Spearo Team launching through the Umzimkulu Mouth 23 April 2023

Boland Spearo Team launching through the Umzimkulu Mouth 23 April 2023

Boland #spearfishing #national #champs #kzn #natal #umzimkulu

Henco and Vloei of the Boland Spearfishing team made the huge trip up from Cape Town. To the Umzimkulu Marina. In Port Shepstone, KZN. To prepare for the upcoming national spearfishing event that we are competing in.

The waves have been big and unruly…

60 Of the best spearos in the water, will converge for a week, to compete. The dates are 7 – 14 May 2023. Teams of 3 are fielded by provinces all over the country.

But don’t expect to see huge catches of huge fish at this event. The rules are totally conservation oriented. With a minimum weight of 1kg, up to 4kgs. Different species score different points. And the breakdown is really weird, to say the least.

These divers will have to perform complex mathematical calculations underwater before they pull the trigger. Shooting the closest to 4kgs of any species is top strategy for this event.

So this launch is Henco’s first out of the Umzimkulu Mouth in Sheppy. But having launched at Umkomaas a number of times before this, I was sure he would get us through just fine. Which he did. We were fortunate enough to have the Niteshift launch right before us so Henco could watch and see the line he chose.

The 90hp single engine configuration makes this little 5.5m boat nigh invincible. Super fast acceleration. And turns on a dime. Both advantages played a role in getting us out there through a very unpredictable swell on this day.

Stay posted for updates as the event unfolds…

We (https://umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za) are running an Advanced Surf Launching course in the next while for some guys. If you are interested in a course like this, please get in touch via that website.

Check out https://mydofishinglures.co.za for more about what to do once you get out through the waves. For South Africans, there is a free postage deal on at https://thesardine.co.za/mydo.

Stay with us in Port Shepstone at https://umzimkulu.co.za.

We can build you a website by Tiger Lily Consulting at https://tigerlilyconsulting.co.za and help you build sales. Or a complete system.

The 2022 Marlin Season has fired up

The 2022 Marlin Season has fired up: with this very first post by the crew of FishBazaruto.com. As they enjoy the beginning of what promises to be another cracker fishing season in those deep purple waters.

Spoiler alert!

Duarte and crew are fully-booked for this 2022 marlin season. Unless there is a last-minute cancellation or something crazy, it’s back-to-back bookings. And no time for more.

However, you can talk to us about next year. Get in touch with me Sean here on umzimkulu@gmail.com and +27793269671. Or click on over to the FishBazaruto website. Use the Rates and Contact page to drop off an enquiry. Duarte is way out of cell range every day so expect a little delay.

Enjoy the article below, from the FishBazaruto.com blog…marlin, sailfish, wahoo, yellowfin, GTs, JObfish, Queenfish…

2022 Marlin Season kicks off with FishBazaruto’s first scorecard posted

FishBazaruto.com on YouTube

We have a playlist of action for you to enjoy below. Shot by Duarte and crew in and around Bazaruto Island waters. YOu can really get a feel for what it’s like by watching and feeling the action on video. Please Like, Subscribe, Comment and Share!

Marlin fishing in South Africa

We might not be as pretty as Bazaruto, but we do have some serious concentrations of fish here along the eastern seaboard of South Africa.

We have the screaming blue Agulhas Current come right up against the continental shelf here too. Which in some places is real close. Like a few kilometres close! These are the places I like to fish for billfish. Where we don’t have to travel miles and miles and miles just to get to the fishing grounds.

The black marlin arrive here much the same time as they up north in Bazaruto. Most of them are notably swimming north. Presumably to the breeding concentration that Bazaruto Island hosts each year this time.

Sodwana Bay is most likely the most fun of all our marlin fishing destinations. Sporting hectic features that show a lot of similarity with the Mozambique hotspots. Deep canyons and steep drop-offs. Strong currents. Bait forced up to the surface.

Richards Bay opens up a huge expanse of water. They got some huge boats there too. But its quite far to the grounds which needs to be factored in weather-wise each time.

Durban is similar in that the 80m line and then the continental shelf is miles offshore.

Shelly Beach features a handy small craft harbour with tractors throwing boats in the shore break quite effectively. The current and the shelf are a mere 20 minutes away from that same shore break. This is a place that holds heaps of potential with a few 100kg yellowfin tuna featuring in the mix out there. Along with many marlin. Closer in there is the formidable Protea Reef with its steady supply of tuna for bait.

If you feel like sampling these crazy waters, contact Sean on umzimkulu@gmail.com or +27793269671 and we can put something together for you.

For this 2022 marlin season!

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