Sardine nets going at Scottburgh in 12 June 2023

Sardine nets going in at Scottburgh 12 June 2023

Sardine nets going in at Scottburgh 12 June 2023: the east wind from yesterday ruined the day for most fisher folk. But. That beasterly wind performs a vital function in the luring of sardines up north.

It drops the water temperature.

Which was very high last week at 24s and 22s. We need 19 or so, for the sardines to really get happy. And that wind blew perfectly hard yesterday, for this to happen.

Let the day unfold…check back here for ongoing updates…

12 June 2023

5 am – beautiful offshore wind chilling the valleys and sweeping the sea flat. Sardine nets on trucks and boats going in all directions. First light approaching.

7 am – Kevin in Qhora updates us with news from his sardine spy network down in the Eastern Cape. In video form…

Many, many sardines still on their way…

9 am – Scottburgh again gets an early visit from a few small shoals of sardines this morning. After a few misfires, a small net was taken and put on the main beach. Video coming in today comprehensive video report this afternoon.

9:30 am – at The Block in Port Shepstone scattered little tiny shoals were being hounded by sharks and gamefish.

10 am – another couple nets went in at Scotties.

11 am – buster southwest wind has just come blasting through. This is exactly what the sardines just love. And with the water having cooled so much from yesterday’s onshore, conditions are absolutely perfect right now. For sardines.

3 PM – Rocky Bay (video to follow). Five crates or so…

Not too many fish with the sardines sighted today but on the whole fishing has been really good. Many small kob. Many nice shad. And in Durban couta and Snoek are taking a beating.