Sardine Run Update 15 June 2023: after a relatively quiet day yesterday, we are gonna have to get out there early this morning, find a good vantage point, and scour the ocean for shoals.
Mr Ant Nel updated us from out at sea whilst fishing yesterday. Ant let us know that there were wall-to-wall sardines out off Port Edward at around lunchtime. But that they were far out to sea and far out of netting range.
Moving north, these sardines could pop up anywhere today. They just got to move into the surf zone where we can get to them!
5 AM – beautifully still morning, trucks and boats loaded. Cruising the south coast for clues and waiting impatiently for first light.
8 AM – big swells with gannets diving in at Leisure Bay this morning. Lots of action but the big waves are going to make things tricky for the netters. Got to look on the inside, in the channels and gulleys, where sometimes in big surf, the sardine shoals get trapped.
9 AM – solid sardine sightings off Port Shepstone with sharks galore. There are also whales and dolphins. And who knows who else. The water is discoloured, unfortunately – but this time it’s NOT pollution. It is just the big waves creating turmoil down there. Excellent hunting conditions for wildlife. Not so good for netters. The sardines here are moving very fast north, being hounded every inch of the way. Probably Scottburgh by lunchtime.
Noon – The beastly Easterly has won the day. BUT. It will bring the water temperature down further towards the point where we need it – 19 degrees Celsius or less. The ocean in this area and at this time of the year – recovers wonderfully fast. Especially if a west blows, which it will – to counter the current high-pressure system…that will run out of steam tonight sometime.
1 PM – many shoals of sardines, unattended, heading north all day today. Park Rynie, Scottburgh, all along the coast, sardines can be seen moving north. But way out deep mainly.
Checking out for today, resume early tomorrow…thanks for watching!
For a great overall perspective you can easily check out the interactive sardine and sightings map…updated constantly…right here…
And we have some cool YouTube Channels to keep you entertained and informed of all things sardines, ocean and conservation.
Surf Launching Southern Africa
Water Woes (best said in Afrikaans)
Umzimkulu Adrenalin will take you out to sea and right into the action. You can stay with us here in the epi-centre of the annual sardine run at Umzimkulu Marina in Port Shepstone.
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