Gale Force Winds and Extreme Temperatures

Gale Force Winds and Extreme Temperatures: the ocean is still moody and the weather feels the same way. Cold and windy early, the wind is coming off the ocean briskly. Warming and calming through the morning. Going straight into Berg Wind conditions after lunch and into mid-afternoon. And then it’s gonna blow!

Those first few hours of Berg Winds might have a really good effect on the ocean. But as it gets dark, a huge buster from the south comes rolling in to round the day’s crazy weather off. Today really could be four seasons in one day.

Over to Adam early this morning from the Durban Beachfront…

The Bear Reports

We have just received a report in from The Bear of the Master Watermen website …

Shad Fishing

Maybe after today’s radical set of weather and sea conditions have had their effect, the shad might come back inside and within reach. The water has dropped in temperature all the way down to 20 degrees in some places. This is great news as it might entice the sardines (and therefore the shad) back.

Sardine Maps

Having intel to make the right decisions can save you hours and hours of frivolous sardine hunting. We have taken great care to log the activity of each sardine run since 2021. These records are available for anyone to look at.

If you study the maps year to year, you will see that right now we are only just in the middle of good sardine conditions. And that in previous years catches were made right into the summer months.

Sardine Map 2024

Sardine Map 2023

Sardine Map 2021

Channels

https://youtube.com/@Brucifire – highly entertaining  surf reporting

https://youtube.com/@thesardinenews – neva miss a single  sardine

https://youtube.com/@fishbazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

https://youtube.com/@mydotackletalk – highly technical  sport fishing

https://youtube.com/@surflaunchingsouthernafrica – getting out there safely

https://youtube.com/@waterwoes – complain here

Websites

https://umzimkulu.co.za – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
https://umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –   sardine run coming up
https://thesardine.co.za – never miss a single   sardine
https://masterwatermen.co.za – news from deep down
https://brucifire.co.za –  surf and conditions reporting
https://fishbazaruto.com – your dreams are out there
https://mydofishinglures.co.za – technical  sport fishing

5 PM 3 August 2024 State of the Ocean Address Kwazulu Natal

5 PM 3 August 2024 State of the Ocean Address Kwazulu Natal and the good weather just keeps on giving as we start this magical Saturday with mild offshore winds. Some swell running. And the onshore building into the afternoon.

The clean and glassy ocean reveals plenty of action out off of Durban today. Baitballs can be clearly seen rising with the sun. There have been mixed nets of mackerel and sardines past few days and with today’s water temperature having finally dropped a degree – down to 21, maybe more Natal sardines will sneak into the bay.

Newest posts at the bottom…starting here…

7 AM Kwazulu Natal Conditions

Over to Adam Kamdar of Township Hyper and today’s Kwazulu Natal Conditions Report…

7:11 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfKfdwRn7k4?rel=0

5 PM State of the Ocean Address by Adam

5PM 3 Aug 2024 State of the Ocean Address by Adam Kamdar in the KZN South Coast (youtube.com)

Surfing

With a dropping tide and an offshore breeze, by low things should, or could, be looking up in some places. August is actually a great month for surfing if you can avoid the winds. Getting out there early is best bet.

Fishing

A bit of swell aerates the water and makes the fish a bit more enthusiastic. And gamefish come right in when it is like this.

Diving

Yesterdays report by The Bear, today…

Sardine Maps

Having intel to make the right decisions can save you hours and hours of frivolous  sardine hunting. We have taken great care to log the activity of each sardine run since 2021. These records are available for anyone to look at.

If you study the maps year to year, you will see that right now we are only just in the middle of good sardine conditions. And that in previous years catches were made right into the summer months.

Sardine Map 2024

Sardine Map 2023

Sardine Map 2021

Channels

https://youtube.com/@Brucifire – highly entertaining  surf reporting

https://youtube.com/@thesardinenews – neva miss a single  sardine

https://youtube.com/@fishbazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

https://youtube.com/@masterwatermen – the deep perspective

https://youtube.com/@mydotackletalk – highly technical   sport fishing

https://youtube.com/@surflaunchingsouthernafrica – getting out there safely

https://youtube.com/@waterwoes – complain here

Websites

https://umzimkulu.co.za – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
https://umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –   sardine run coming up
https://thesardine.co.za – never miss a single   sardine
https://masterwatermen.co.za – news from deep down
https://brucifire.co.za –  surf and conditions reporting
https://fishbazaruto.com – your dreams are out there
https://mydofishinglures.co.za – technical   sport fishing

BIG Waves vs Natal Sardines Showdown on Durban Beachfront

BIG Waves vs Natal Sardines Showdown on Durban Beachfront: The ocean is not always your friend. And although the beaches in front of Durban town look almost manageable today, the rest of the coastline is spectacularly angry.

The southwest wind mind get its angle of approach right and paint the town beaches clean for surfing. Low tide is a friendly 9 am. And town is going to be the only place in the entire area, that might be useable.

Netters are netting

In these challenging conditions, three teams are out there battling the odds and the elements right now. Sardine netting is a fantastic spectator sport so if you are able, get down to the Durban beachfront and enjoy the highly-experienced crews perform their magic.

Yesterday saw a lovely net of Natal Sardines on the beach at North Beach. Extremely convenient to the residents of Durban. Who often times might miss out all of the action on the Natal South Coast each run.

Adam documented the morning’s proceedings and combined with our KZN Conditions update and some real good recent catches, we have a report for you…

The Bear in the Afternoon

Channels

https://youtube.com/@Brucifire – highly entertaining  surf reporting

https://youtube.com/@thesardinenews – neva miss a single  sardine

https://youtube.com/@fishbazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

https://youtube.com/@mydotackletalk – highly technical  sport fishing

https://youtube.com/@surflaunchingsouthernafrica – getting out there safely

https://youtube.com/@waterwoes – complain here

Websites

https://umzimkulu.co.za – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
https://umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –   sardine run coming up
https://thesardine.co.za – never miss a single   sardine
https://masterwatermen.co.za – news from deep down
https://brucifire.co.za –  surf and conditions reporting
https://fishbazaruto.com – your dreams are out there
https://mydofishinglures.co.za – technical  sport fishing

6am on 1 August 2024 Baitballs in the Backline at North Beach Durban

6am on 1 August 2024 Baitballs in the Backline at North Beach Durban: Another fantastic day unveils itself on the Durban Beachfront. Thank you to Adam of Township Hyper for his reliable and fun reports every single day since the Sardine Run 2024 kicked off so early back in May and June.

It’s been an incredible sardine run this year. And they are still being sighted making their way north in smaller concentrated shoals at the moment. Being spotted south of us means we are always in with a chance of being surprised by these enigmatic little fishies.

Our first report was recorded at 6:21am. Many reports will come in today as the ocean offers up her bounty in these pristine conditions.

You can see baitballs for miles…over to Adam…

7 AM Shoals Rising off Durban

Gamefish

Right now it’s all about the gamefish. That are chasing and gorging on these remaining shoals. Garrick, kingfish and queenfish lead the charge in the surf zone. Kob too.

But right now is crocodile couta time. And man-oh-man has it been a good year for these big fish. More have been encountered up on the north coast, than the south coast this year. But this is exactly the time to be scouting for those big fish. The river 30’s.

Check the lovely 38 that came out yesterday at St. Lucia. These are the fish we are talking about. Adam is out there today, let’s see what team Township Hyper can bring home.

We cannot mention gamefish on the backline without talking about those gas bottle sized yellowfin tuna that also frequent the shallows during the clean water months of winter. They come right in, often hunting behind the dolphins as they team up to terrorise the shad and mackerel. And the remaining sardines.

Go fishing!

JBay

Sardines Netted Durban 12:30 PM

Sardine Maps

Having intel to make the right decisions can save you hours and hours of frivolous sardine hunting. We have taken great care to log the activity of each sardine run since 2021. These records are available for anyone to look at.

If you study the maps year to year, you will see that right now we are only just in the middle of good sardine conditions. And that in previous years catches were made right into the summer months.

Sardine Map 2024

Sardine Map 2023

Sardine Map 2021

Channels

https://youtube.com/@Brucifire – highly entertaining  surf reporting

https://youtube.com/@thesardinenews – neva miss a single  sardine

https://youtube.com/@fishbazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

https://youtube.com/@mydotackletalk – highly technical  sport fishing

https://youtube.com/@surflaunchingsouthernafrica – getting out there safely

https://youtube.com/@masterwatermen

https://youtube.com/@waterwoes – complain here

Websites

https://umzimkulu.co.za – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
https://umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –   sardine run coming up
https://thesardine.co.za – never miss a single   sardine
https://masterwatermen.co.za – news from deep down
https://brucifire.co.za –  surf and conditions reporting
https://fishbazaruto.com – your dreams are out there
https://mydofishinglures.co.za – technical  sport fishing

31 July 2024 at 07h30 KZN Fishing Conditions are Excellent

31 July 2024 at 07h30 KZN Fishing Conditions are Excellent: Adam Kamdar kicks off the AM Show here at The Sardine News. Conditions have been an absolute delight to report on recently. Today again, west winds, calm seas, sunny skies and all we need is a working Chevrolet (You gonna need to be old for that joke to make any sense).

Over to Adam…

31 July 2024 at 07h30 KZN Fishing Conditions are Excellent (youtube.com) <– use this link to visit our YouTube Channel.

Fishing

There is a swell running. Polished and perfect it has made its way up from Jeffreys Bay. Which has been on fire last few weeks. This swell aerates the water and gets fish moving. Especially gamefish in the surf zone and along the backline.

The water is still warm as toast, hovering around 22 or 23 degrees Celsius.

Sardines

This warm water is no good for cold-water sardines. They like the water at around 19. Theoretically then, they are hanging around out deep in cold water pockets. And only a stiff few days of east winds will bring this about. None of these winds are on the horizon. It just looks to be getting better and better each week.

Surfing

You can see the recent surfing down at JBay at https://brucifire.co.za. Brucifire Surf Retorts! I mean reports!

Diving

Water is a bit murky and the swell has been strong last few days. Maybe the blue will meander in on the north coast. And roll on down through Durban and then onto the south coast. I am sure the Bear from Master Watermen will check in later with a viz report or something.

Updates

Updates will appear right here on this page all day long.

Sardine Maps

Having intel to make the right decisions can save you hours and hours of frivolous sardine hunting. We have taken great care to log the activity of each sardine run since 2021. These records are available for anyone to look at.

If you study the maps year to year, you will see that right now we are only just in the middle of good sardine conditions. And that in previous years catches were made right into the summer months.

Sardine Map 2024

Sardine Map 2023

Sardine Map 2021

Channels

https://youtube.com/@Brucifire – highly entertaining  surf reporting

https://youtube.com/@thesardinenews – neva miss a single  sardine

https://youtube.com/@fishbazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

https://youtube.com/@mydotackletalk – highly technical  sport fishing

https://youtube.com/@surflaunchingsouthernafrica – getting out there safely

https://youtube.com/@waterwoes – complain here

Websites

https://umzimkulu.co.za – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
https://umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –   sardine run coming up
https://thesardine.co.za – never miss a single   sardine
https://masterwatermen.co.za – news from deep down
https://brucifire.co.za –  surf and conditions reporting
https://fishbazaruto.com – your dreams are out there
https://mydofishinglures.co.za – technical  sport fishing