Sardine Searching – Mtakatyi River Lodge to Banana Bay

Now this is how you go looking for sardines! The Sardine News crew is back sardine searching, styling it up at Mtakatyi River Lodge — the perfect base for chasing fish and waves along the Wild Coast.

From the meandering road that links Coffee Bay, Umdumbi, Presley Bay, and Hluleka, we set off towards Banana Bay. Normally we kayak down the river and hike through the forest, but today it’s a full road trip — bouncing along muddy tracks, spotting cows with a view, and laughing at Buzz Friday’s “More Fire” fishing antics.

The ocean is buzzing: shoals everywhere, birds rafting, game fish smashing bait. Sardines are holding out deep, with warm water patches near shore, but the signs are all there — silver waves of fish, oil slicks, and hundreds of birds flying north.

Buzz nails a parrot fish on his first cast, Bruce scouts the surf, and we explore Banana Bay’s perfect left?hander. It’s paradise — cliffs, jungle, aloes in bloom, and not another soul in sight.

Mtakatyi River Lodge is taking guests, and it’s the ideal sardine run HQ. Stay here, fish here, surf here — every day’s a dream. Contact us at The Sardine News Network to book your week of adventure. Use the WhatsApp button on this screen sometime.

Because out here, every bay is alive, every shoal is a mystery, and every trip is another story waiting to be told.

Banana Bay in the distance from Hluleka in the deep Transkei

Buzz Friday herding a lost cow at Banana Bay — Banana Bay in the distance from Hluleka in the deep Transkei

Sardines and Sighting Maps

Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. With instructions on how to install The Sardine News right on your phone, tablet, or even desktop.

YouTube Channels

Brucifire Surf Retorts – highly entertaining surf reporting

Master Watermen – news from way down deep

The Sardine News – neva miss a single sardine

FishBazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

MYDO Tackle Talk – highly technical sport fishing

Surf Launching Southern Africa – getting out there safely

Water Woes – complain about your municipality here

Websites

umzimkulu.co.za – fishing, charters, accommodation
umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za – will get you right out and onto the edge
thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine
masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water
fishbazaruto.com – dreams are out there
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts
fishmad.co.za – destination Madagascar
andantelodge.co.za – Transit luxury in Pretoria
destinycottage.co.za – Mbotyi dreams