Sardines in December? Head to Port Elizabeth!

Sardines in December? Head to Port Elizabeth!

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 just never gonna stop learning about sardines!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: The Sardine News – neva miss a single  sardine!

Sardines and Sighting Maps

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.

2025 Sardine Map

2024 Sardine Map

2023 Sardine Map

2022 Sardine Map

2021 Sardine Map

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 – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –  will get you right out and onto the edge
thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine