Sardines in December? Head to Port Elizabeth! Well, we ain’t never gonna stop learning about sardines, are we? I was shocked when I was cruising TikTok (by mistake) the other day and stumbled across a Dean Dickinson video. About sardines!
In December!
There they were happily helping themselves to the shoals of sardines that the shoals of shad had chased in. Right at Marine Drive!
And so I pestered Dean (as I do often) for further information. And this is what he divulged…
“Yeah you guys your sardines in about June. And by that time they have gone from us. Then in about November, we start to get the sardines again. And we start netting”
Then I had to ask about the water temperature, and this is what Dean said, “It’s been 20C to 22C for the whole of December and January”. Which is slightly warm but doable for sardines which normally enjoy their saltwater served at about 19 degrees or less.
Then, he pointed out that the sardines that they were catching were small, like 100 grams. So they were you youngsters, having just been born from last year’s spawning activities.
And this leads me to the next question – where was this spawning activity? Was it up our east coast? As would sort of make sense. Or did they come from the Agulhas banks from the main population down there?
We have started the 2025 Sardine Run Map! And it already has some sardine action logged!
2024 was a thrilling year for sardines. All the action has been logged right here on The Sardine News. The 2024 map has been viewed 200 000 times and just keeps growing.
Which led us to decide to keep the map live. And keep adding unique marine animal sightings and events. That occurs non-stop all year round. This year we started to log more whale and dolphin sightings. And we even had a shipwreck! And a freaking tornado! And recently a capsized KZNSB boat! We have been updating the map with recent catches too…
These events will from now on be included in the Sardine News Sightings Map for 2024. And on the 1 January 2025, we shall start all over again.
Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. Great for a windy day like today to research. With instructions to install The Sardine News right on your phone or desktop.
The KOB News including Sardines, Shad, Cyclones and Brown Water
The KOB News including Sardines, Shad, Cyclones and Brown Water: starting with the Kob News…
The KOB News
Nick and Dylan Kempen have been lurking in all the right SKZN car parks this January it seems…
Yes these are all handsome little koblets here. All caught on pink paddle tails. Down past Southbroom way. But in the latest news episode on YouTube features young Dylan Kempen getting worked by what only can be a GT proper.
And in this shot, Johan Bronkhorst, all the way out from the US, bags his own nice kob news on the Sandspit in Port Shepstone.
More kob news: – Johan Bronhorst reliving his childhood on The Sandspit recently with this lovely kobfish
Welcome home Johan – nice fish man!
And here is one for records…this is Jauhar of Port Shepstone also, with a geelbek salmon taken on a paddletail! These fish are not known for jumping on lures – they are notoriously fickle that way.
More kob news:: Jauhar and his paddle tail caught Geelbek Port Shepstone
Brown water fishing is so much fun down the SKZN – Sheppy Locals love the brown!
KZN is a Spearo’s Paradise
The Bear aka Jason Heyne of The Master Watermen website has consistently been entertaining us with his bi-weekly roundups. And reports straight from the beach – up and down the KZN coastline.
Twin GTs by Zander and Bruce out deeper than normal in KZN
KZN, over the summer, has been a spearos paradise. Clean and clear water most of the time – in most places. And some amazing catches were made right up and down, from north to south. Check out these twin GTs.
We have had to avoid beaches in and around town though. Also, the Uvongo and Margate areas are no-go-in-water zones. But otherwise, what a summer gamefish location KZN has turned out to be this year!
KZN – spearos paradise!
Well, we do have the odd Zambezi left here in KZN to contend with. Although the vaste majority have been systematically murdered by the Kwazulu Natal Sharks Board. To protect nobody since nobody can swim the best beaches anymore without sewage getting in their systems and making them sick, And out of season, on any given day, there are so few bathers in the water, that it begs the question…is all that money and resource being spent on killing sharks really worth it? Who are we trying to protect from what? The sewage is a FAR greater threat than any dumb Zambezi shark could ever be.
Twin Shark Attacks in Vilankulos
A tragic week in the lovely town of Vilankulos in early January. The local fishing community lost two of its members in two separate shark attacks. The victims were harvesting from the ocean. They were both in groups of other divers. Who came to assist. But they were no match for such a vicious predator.
Was it the same shark? It is very likely since once a shark has crossed the human flesh barrier, it feels quite comfortable doing it again. The concept of a ‘rogue’ shark is not new. And has been encountered the world over. The shark may also be sick or old and cannot hunt regular prey anymore. Humans are real slow in the water.
Why was the shark so shallow? It is a known fact amongst the locals in the area – that sharks come in real shallow when it gets so hot as it does up there in the archipelago. Water temperatures can reach 30 degrees Celsius plus.
What species? A bull shark, aka Zambezi, is the only suspect. As they are known to frequent shallow still waters of any open estuary. They can hunt really shallow. Can swim and breathe in fresh water.
And are lethal.
There were many confused people who immediately summised that it was a scuba incident and started spreading this news – falsely. I am not sure what it takes to be a sharer of false news for sensationalism and personal ego gain but many people seem to have this infliction.
Tropical Storm Dikeledi
Tropical Storm Dikeledi
As if the current political storms are not enough to test the resilience of the Mozambican people, this cyclone meant business after all. Going by the name of Dikeledi, this gal seems to be on another mission. She followed a very predictable path right across the top of Madagascar and down into Inhambane Province in Mozambique.
The only thing you can do in these cases is batten down the hatches. Boats headed off to the mangroves to be tied down properly. They also do find a certain degree of shelter and protection in those low-lying waters. The mangroves do a helluva lot in mitigating the sheer forces that these storms generate.
Never cut down a mangrove!
From Brucifire…
Zulu to English Translation: “Dikeledi” can be translated to English as “tears” or “crying”. However, in a more poetic sense, it can also mean “sorrow” or “heartache”.
UGU vs RNM
UGU vs. RNM: The strike continues. These two entities, UGU and RNM, which are mandated to run our region, are revolting – against each other. They have long had animosity. No love is lost between anyone and UGU. RNM is under the authority of UGU. Between the two of them, they have let their constant arguments about money take their citizens down.
The very same citizens that UGU and RNM are PAID to SERVE! Like the guys in the picture at left.
How long is this dire situation – allowed by the ANC, to go on? The sewage just keeps pumping, the tourists keep getting sick, and the rubbish piles up.
Local legends such as Mr. Selvan Chetty, Lazer Security, and many other good souls shone brightly as they volunteered quickly to step in: refuse collection and removal, help the elderly, and ease the overall pain.
I am sure that it would be easily possible one fine day, for the community to rather run the show. Rather than the ANC disasters looting the system right now. Overtime! Dodgy tenders! Water tankers! Irregular expenditure!
In the meantime, I still can’t even go get my driver’s license renewed?!
Go UGU! Go RNM!
Your perceived entitlement is going to be your biggest downfall.
Tourists Missing from Tofo due to Unrest
Sure do hope the political clowns running the show can get around a table and iron things out once and for all. Simplistic? Yes for sure. But what else can we hope for before a literal blood shed comes about as both presidential claimants aim to be coronated this week.
Stay out of Maputo for now!
SKZN Brown Water Fishing
Ain’t nothing wrong with this brown water! As you can see from the Kob report, and the following brown water gallery in Sheppy.
Plus a very nice GT you can see in the next video report going out later today.
Sardines and Sighting Maps
It has been a fantastic sardine run this memorable 2024. And all the action has been logged right here on The Sardine News. This year’s map has been viewed 200 000 times and just keeps growing.
Which led us to decide to keep the map live. And keep adding unique marine animal sightings and events. That occurs non-stop all year round. This year we started to log more whale and dolphin sightings. And we even had a shipwreck! And a freaking tornado! And recently a capsized KZNSB boat! We have been updating the map with recent catches too…
These events will from now on be included in the Sardine News Sightings Map for 2024. And on the 1 January 2025, we shall start all over again.
Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. Great for a windy day like today to research. With instructions to install The Sardine News right on your phone or desktop.
Full Moon Spring Tides and Coastal Safety Precautions
For Immediate Release 10 January 2025 NSRI Advisory: Full Moon Spring Tides and Coastal Safety Precautions: The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) urges holidaymakers and visitors to the coast to exercise caution during the final days of the school holidays, as the upcoming full moon spring tide is set to peak on Wednesday, 15 January 2025.
The spring tide on January 15, 2025, coincides with the full moon on January 14, 2025, significantly impacting tidal conditions during the last days of the school holidays.
This natural phenomenon occurs when the sun, moon, and Earth align during the new moon phase, amplifying the gravitational pull on Earth’s oceans. What to Expect During a Full Moon Spring Tide:
Higher High Tides: Water levels will rise significantly, reaching further up the shoreline.
Lower Low Tides: More of the seabed will be exposed as water levels dip below average.
Increased Tidal Range: The difference between high and low tide levels will be at its maximum. Impacts and Hazards of a New Moon Spring Tide: Spring tides often result in stronger tidal currents, particularly in narrow inlets. This natural phenomenon can present potential dangers: • Rip Currents: Stronger tidal flows intensify rip currents, posing a risk to swimmers. • Coastal Hiking Hazards: Some hiking trails near the coast may become inaccessible or hazardous during high tide. • Fishing Precautions: Shoreline anglers should exercise extra caution, as higher waves may reach beyond usual safe zones. Safety Measures to Follow: To ensure your safety while enjoying coastal activities, the NSRI recommends the following precautions: Beach and Swimming Safety • Swim at lifeguard-protected beaches: Go into the water between lifeguard flags to avoid rip currents. • Be aware of rip currents. Rip currents are particularly strong during spring tides, especially during outgoing tides, which will occur in the late afternoon. • Stay informed: Check daily weather forecasts from the South African Weather Service (SAWS) and consult tide timetables. Coastal Activities • Hiking: Plan your hikes carefully, avoiding trails that may be cut off during high tide in the late afternoon. • Fishing: Shoreline anglers should maintain a safe distance from the water. When fishing from rocks or cliffs, they should wear a life jacket and carry flotation equipment (for example, a 5L plastic container with a rope attached) that can be thrown to someone in the water. • Boating and paddling: Always wear life jackets, carry essential safety equipment, and keep your cell phone fully charged in a waterproof pouch. The free NSRI SafeTrx smartphone app allows you to log your trip and call the NSRI for help quickly and easily. General Water Safety • Alcohol and water do not mix: Drinking alcohol before doing an activity in or near water may put your life at risk. • Supervise children: Ensure children have responsible adult supervision in and near the water. Additional Precautions • Time your activities: Be cautious during tide changes, especially when high tide recedes to low tide (in the late afternoon) for beach visitors and on the incoming tide (in the early afternoon) for rock anglers and hikers. • Stay informed: Follow local safety alerts and warnings issued by authorities. • Save the emergency number 112 on your cell phone. Enjoy Coastal Activities Responsibly: The effects of spring tides will last several days before and after January 15th. By adhering to these safety measures, you can minimise risks and responsibly enjoy the ocean’s natural beauty. For further updates and emergency assistance, please visit our website www.nsri.org.za Issued by: For interviews or information, please get in touch with NSRI Communications Manager Andrew Ingram at andrewi@searescue.org.za or on 082 990 5977
ABOUT THE NSRI
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is a registered non-profit organisation that is committed to drowning prevention and focused on saving lives, changing lives and creating futures for those threatened by drowning in South Africa.
The NSRI is unique in South Africa as the only non-profit organisation focusing exclusively on safeguarding lives and livelihoods in South African waters through education, prevention, and rescue operations. We envision a nation where drowning incidents are minimised, ensuring the safety of all.
The NSRI strives to innovate and evolve constantly and extend its water safety initiatives through empowerment and visibility. Our volunteers are on call 24/7 and rely on donations and sponsorships.
Please visit www.nsri.org.za for more information.
NSRI EMERGENCY: 087 094 9774
Sardines and Sighting Maps
It has been a fantastic sardine run this memorable 2024. And all the action has been logged right here on The Sardine News. This year’s map has been viewed 200 000 times and just keeps growing.
Which led us to decide to keep the map live. And keep adding unique marine animal sightings and events. That occurs non-stop all year round. This year we started to log more whale and dolphin sightings. And we even had a shipwreck! And a freaking tornado! And recently a capsized KZNSB boat! We have been updating the map with recent catches too…
These events will from now on be included in the Sardine News Sightings Map for 2024. And on the 1 January 2025, we shall start all over again.
Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. Great for a windy day like today to research. With instructions to install The Sardine News right on your phone or desktop.
Ode to the Fan: The January sun, a brassy bastard, beat down on KZN. Even the Umzimkulu River, usually a lazy, brown ribbon, simmered, the stench of sewage rising in sickly plumes. Municipal strikes, a predictable summer ritual, had crippled the town. Water pumps groaned to a halt, toilets overflowed, and raw sewage, a pungent offering to the gods of incompetence, seeped into the river.
Life, for those who lived along its banks, became a symphony of suffering. The heat, a relentless metronome, hammered away at their sanity. Load shedding, another gift from the benevolent hand of government, plunged them into darkness, the air thick with the buzz of mosquitoes and the mournful croaking of unseen swamp creatures.
The fan, oh blessed fan, became their saviour, a fragile shield against the onslaught. Its whirring blades, a desperate counterpoint to the suffocating stillness. But even the fan, a humble guardian, succumbed. The power cuts, merciless and frequent, rendered it impotent, leaving them gasping for air, sweat plastering their bodies, the heat a malevolent entity, intent on their demise.
The government, those distant, faceless bureaucrats, remained oblivious. Their pronouncements, empty platitudes echoing through the ether, offered no solace. They spoke of service delivery, of infrastructure upgrades, of a brighter future, while the river choked, the people sweltered, and the mosquitoes feasted.
The people, however, found solace in the absurd. They named the river “The Great Unflushed,” a grim jest that mirrored their own despair. They fashioned makeshift fans from cardboard and string, their laughter a fragile echo in the face of their predicament. They cursed the government with the fervour of a thousand suns, their voices rising in a cacophony of frustration and disbelief.
And so, they endured these resilient souls, clinging to the hope that the sun would eventually set, that the power would flicker back to life, that the fan, their faithful companion, would once again spin its magic, offering a fleeting reprieve from the suffocating embrace of summer and the incompetence of their government.
Disclaimer: This is a fictionalized account. The views expressed are satirical and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the author.
Sardines and Sighting Maps
It has been a fantastic sardine run this memorable 2024. And all the action has been logged right here on The Sardine News. This year’s map has been viewed 200 000 times and just keeps growing.
Which led us to decide to keep the map live. And keep adding unique marine animal sightings and events. That occurs non-stop all year round. This year we started to log more whale and dolphin sightings. And we even had a shipwreck! And a freaking tornado! And recently a capsized KZNSB boat! We have been updating the map with recent catches too…
These events will from now on be included in the Sardine News Sightings Map for 2024. And in January 2025, we shall start all over again.
Coming soon!
Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. Great for a windy day like today to research. With instructions to install The Sardine News right on your phone or desktop.
Professor Tony Turton Weighs In About Water Quality in SA
Professor Tony Turton Weighs In About Water Quality in SA: I have been writing to educate the general public to the point where they can make an informed decision when confronted by a municipal statement that the beaches are safe from sewage contamination. In one recent statement, a municipality claimed that 30 of it’s beaches are safe, citing 300 samples on which this conclusion is based. From a forensic perspective, we have two variables that need verification. Variables 1 is the claim that 30 beaches are safe. Variables 2 is that this conclusion is derived from 300 samples. The numbers 30 and 300 are relevant to this assessment, and nothing else. So the question is whether the conclusion that 30 beaches are safe is valid, when the answer has been extrapolated from 300 samples? Stated differently, can 300 samples reliably tell us that 30 beaches are safe? To answer this question we have to get technical, so please bear with me as I explain. For argument sake, let us assume that we are sampling one site only. Let’s assume this site is in the middle of the deepest channel of an estuary. Then let’s assume that this single sampling point as shown on a map is two metres deep. Let us assume that most sewage contamination comes from rivers. Now it gets interesting, because an estuary is the place where freshwater and salt-water meet. Freshwater comes from the run-off over the land, and salt-water comes from the ocean. To better understand this interaction between freshwater and salt-water, we need to grasp some basic physics and chemistry. Here goes. Please bear with me. Freshwater is less dense than salt-water so it will always result in stratification in an estuary. Freshwater will flow on top of the salt-water, so to take a representative sample we must capture data from BOTH the freshwater and the salt-water at that one single point in the deepest part of the two metre channel. The freshwater sample will tell us if the sewage is coming down rivers, and the seawater sample will tell us if it’s coming from offshore pipelines. But we don’t know how deep the freshwater lens is as it floats over the top of the seawater. We know that freshwater floats so a surface sample will capture data only from the river fraction. We can also assume that the very bottom of the channel is most likely to be just salt-water. Note that we can’t say for sure that it will be salt-water, because if the river is in flood, it’s possible that the entire flow at that single point will be fresh. But we also know that most of our rivers in South Africa have been dammed, so flooding is attenuated to the point where its safe to assume that the sample taken at two metres below surface, in a channel two metres deep, is likely to be saline. So we can easily conclude that two samples, one at the surface, and another at the bottom of the two metre deep channel will probably capture both the freshwater and salt-water fractions of the total water column. This means that at a minimum we need 2 samples from that one point if we are to draw valid conclusions. But, we also know that different laboratories give different readings for various valid reasons, so at a minimum we need four samples from that single point of measurement in the deepest channel of the estuary. So we now have 4 samples from one place. Two go to Labarotary A and two go to Labarotary B. They don’t know about each other, so they can’t collude to manipulate the results. Can we draw conclusions from four samples taken at one point to safely determine that 30 beaches are safe? Let’s dig deeper. Estuaries are dynamic environments because seawater meets freshwater. But the ocean has a tidal pulse. Therefore to fully understand our estuary, we have to sample everyday for a lunar cycle, if we are to understand how the tidal pulse distributes the flow between freshwater and salt-water fractions. Lets call this a calendar month, so 4 samples daily multiplied by 30 equals 120 samples that will be required to understand that single estuary. But what about seasonal changes? What about spring tides versus neap tides? What about rainy seasons versus dry seasons. What about summer and winter? To understand these complex issues in the most primitive way, we need to capture at a minimum three months worth of data. This will at least tell us what the spring tide impact is, and it might start to suggest seasonal variations. Suddenly our 120 samples now become 360. Now the next question is whether the samples taken in the deepest portion of the estuary accurately capture data from offshore pipelines discharging untreated sewage into the ocean a kilometer away? To understand this we need at a minimum to capture data at the surface and at the point of discharge at depth. Let’s say we have only one sewage discharge pipeline. This doubles the number of samples needed, so we now face the need for 720 samples. In our theoretical model we now have 720 samples, taken from just two sampling points, so we can now ask if we can safely extrapolate the results from 720 samples, taken from just two points a kilometre apart, to conclude that 30 beaches are safe? The logical answer is no. It’s not possible to reliably conclude that 30 beaches are safe, after analysing 720 samples. Therefore such claims cannot be substantiated by the data captured from the two sites. In reality, it would require thousands of samples, captured over time scales measured in months, or even years, to reliably make such claims. I am not saying that these officials are deliberately misleading the public. What I am saying is that the claims being made citing the precise number of samples used, cannot be statistically relevant. Therefore the legal term Caveat Emptor applies. Buyer beware. Take appropriate precautions. Have a lovely holiday. But never be afraid of applying logic to sweeping statements made by municipal officials. The beaches are probably safe, but not because of voodoo science being cited by municipal officials who assume that the public is gullible enough believe their slick spin. To vaguely conclude that 30 beaches are safe would require at least 3 000 samples. But to reliably conclude that 30 beaches are safe would require closer to 30 000 samples. Caveat Emptor. Be savvy. Stay safe.
THANK YOU TONY!
Sardines and Sighting Maps
It has been a fantastic sardine run this memorable 2024. And all the action has been logged right here on The Sardine News. This year’s map has been viewed 200 000 times and just keeps growing.
Which led us to decide to keep the map live. And keep adding unique marine animal sightings and events. That occurs non-stop all year round. This year we started to log more whale and dolphin sightings. And we even had a shipwreck! And a freaking tornado! And recently a capsized KZNSB boat! We have been updating the map with recent catches too…
These events will from now on be included in the Sardine News Sightings Map for 2024. And on the 1 January 2025, we shall start all over again.
Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. Great for a windy day like today to research. With instructions to install The Sardine News right on your phone or desktop.
