The Week in Video By The Sardine News: we start with today’s news in video. Then, we will move back in time as we go through the week.
Sunday 23
Another carbon copy of the day before and the day before and so on. March is famed for it’s beautiful weather. And beautiful ocean. Except that this year the heavy rains have lasted way longer than usual and as of today, the Umzimkulu and other such rivers are pumping out brown water.
The good news is that the forecasters have finally admitted that a west wind is coming. They have put it down for later into the evening tonight in Durban. So South Coasters will get it during the day still.
Saturday 22
Another manky, hot and humid day in KZN. These conditions are always the precursor to a buster south-west but the weather forecasters are having none of it.
Friday 21
Typical March conditions a re prevailing with the arrival of early offshore winds and balmy hot days. The easterly breeze is welcome by everyone except surfers, divers and fishermen. Surely a west is gonna blow sometime soon?
No video report to be found?!
Thursday 20
Somehow I think we missed reporting on this day. Ah! It was Emilio and Shazzas housewarming in Tweni! Welcome to the family newly relocated from Cape Town!
Wednesday 19
Meet the real abalone poachers – featuring Anton Kruger
These time lapses are proving to be a lot fo fun. ANd they reveal more than can be imagined by showing all the many cloud movements happening in their different stratas.
Tuesday 18
Absolutely nothing going on so we went to Harding to see a Type 1A Natal Flash Flood as documented in video by Harding Farmer Bertie Strydom.
Jumping Tides this 11 December 2024: welcome back to The Sardine News this absolutely perfect 11 December 2024. And it’s a jump tide (the tide moved forward about 2 hours last night) so we are back to idyllic low tide mornings. As we move towards an epic spring tide and full moon in a few days time. These are magnificent circumstances for all ocean activities. Plus the ocean and weather conditions look to remain stable right through to the next high pressures due after the weekend. When it will all turn around blowing hard from the northeast. And get HOT as hell!
We are starting real early with reports today following The Bear on his chosen path down south. On his ever-lasting quest for clean, fish-rich water that KZN Spearos dream about all year long.
Welcome to the Late Edition of The Sardine News…
Flat Seas Early by the Bear With Viz Report KZN South Coast 11 December 2024
It’s been an incredibly cool week weather-wise here in KZN. And it just looks to get better, with a light south-west wind forecast to breeze through sometime this morning. You can hear the excitement and stoke in The Bear’s voice in his report today. Can’t wait to see what the spearos come out with later.
Over to The Bear…
Surfing
That little rat swell is hardly gonna make it into Durban town beaches at all. Maybe on the north and south coasts, you might find something to surf. But it’s gonna be mainly all about holidaymakers and bathing today. The water is still clean and clear in KZN. The proper rains have not come yet and we look ok for the next week or so.
Get in while you can!
Plus, it is 24 degrees or more in some places today. There are some cooler pockets as per usual. Down to 22 or 23. But this 24 and 25 stuff is perfect gamefish sea temperature. The fish are not too lazy from either the water being to warm. Or too cold.
Adam Kamdar got lucky enough to get out to sea yesterday. And even more lucky he got when his rod screamed whilst trolling. And he found himself attached to this remarkable bull dorado.
Matching Dorado Kit Available at Township Hyper
Obviously this inspired Adam and crew to be out there again today…and…BANG! Early this very morning! Veer and Novi are the lucky crew members.
Veer Heeramum stands proud with his Durban Dorado this very morningNovi and Veer out with Adam Kamdar this morningNovi with the second bull dorado on the boat in two days
Shad
The shad have realised the date and have gone into hiding. The beaches are dotted with anglers trying to find ’em. But those shad can be really fussy and they do not like warm water. They most likely have ventured out deeper in search of the cooler water that they are known to thrive in.
Couta
Now if you can find those shad out there, and snag a nice big one – put it out live for a decent shot at the wily king mackerel(couta in KZN) as they just come into season. The kayaker crew are leading the leader board with two medium-sized couta so far.
Martin DeJager South Coast KZN Dream Catch on Kayak early December 2024And on the backline, we even have a November couta caught. By kayaker on the North Coast – Aldeen
If you would like to be totally kitted to catch these big fish, MYDO Fishing Lures can rig you up. With special heavy-duty but stealthy MYDO Baitswimmer Gamefish Traces. They can swim a dead or a live-bait. And are adjustable regards depth.
And trace length. Got to hook up right – first time every time!
MYDO Telescopic Dropper AssemblyMYDO StripBaitSwimmer dressed with sardine fillet and light blue mini skirtMYDO HD Telescopic Gamefish Trace Head w 300lb Nylon LeaderMYDO HD Telescopic Gamefish Trace w 300lb Nylon LeaderMYDO StripBaitSwimmer rigs quick and easy. A bit of cotton secures the deal for faster trolling.MYDO Telescopic Couta Trace Number OneMYDO #3 Couta Trace Silver Bullet
You can browse all the MYDO products for targeting couta / king mackerel by clicking right HERE. And you can watch all tihngs MYDO, including how to rig your own, on our YouTube Channel. Click right HERE for that.
Estuary Halocline Hunting
Estuary Halocline Hunting – For International Fishing Pleasure – by MYDO Baitswimmers.
Unbelievably, the rains have stayed away and we are blessed with clean water and even clean estuaries here on the KZN South Coast at the moment.
Here we feature a classic sequence of the halocline (line between more salty and less salty water) moving down the river as the tide drains. And as luck would sometimes have it…as the halocline moves into the jetty area, the baitfish and prawns hiding there get given a proper hiding.
The tip is to find that halocline and work with it. Moving up the river with the pushing tide or the other way around. Tomorrow early we are going to be giving the estuary out front here a go. Stay posted to The Sardine News to see how it goes.
Synoptic Analysis
The synoptic chart is looking great again at the moment. That big dotted line across the middle is a weakening cold front. And you can tell by the way the contour lines are further apart in that area, that the ocean and wind out there are cool and calm.
Tropical Storm Chido is still lurking top right. You got to keep your eye on those two low pressures looking to dance together more closely.
But overall, this is a very healthy looking synoptic chart for today.
Mozambique Travel
Things are about the same as yesterday. BAD!
Maimelane this morning…
Traveling in Mozambique right now is NOT advised. Roadblock at Maimelane this morning already…pictured alongside.
Sadly, Fatima’s Nest in Tofo have had to cancel their annual Ocean Festival. Something that has held cultural importance for the Inhambane people for 14 Years straight!
Club of Mozambique report of a study in which 13 000 bookings have been cancelled due to political unrest in Gaza province alone. Many lodge owners have upped and left for their own safety.
This is an absolute disgrace that political bickering over votes, money and power can affect so many people so badly. To the core. So many livelihoods. It’s gonna be a bleak Xmas and New Year in Mozambleak this year for sure.
And our thoughts and good wishes are with everyone affected.
We will be back!
Sardines and Sighting Maps
It has been a fantastic sardine run this memorable 2024. And all the action has been logged right here on The Sardine News. This year’s map has been viewed 197,000 times and just keeps going.
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.
Monday More Fun Day for KZN Surfers by Adam Kamdar in Surf City
Monday More Fun Day for KZN Surfers by Adam Kamdar in Surf City: Welcome back to the sardine news. We have Adam Kamdar checking from what has turned out to be another surfing day in KZN and Durban in particular.
Over to Adam Kandar at North Beach in Surf City…
Durban
Monday More Fun Day for Surfers in KZN by Adam Kamdar on the Spot at North Beach in the famous Surf City that is Durban in South Africa.
Good time to be a surfer as the swell promises to build all day long. And reach a massive pulse tomorrow. Up to 5 meters at the crack of dawn! Obviously for this time of the year, the wind has agreed to join the party and will be cranking through at an enormous rate of knots.
SW
Gusts of up to 40 knots, which equates to like 80kmh, will punctuate the strong south-westerly tomorrow too. It looks to be at least 15 or 20 knots all day long. Only backing off on Tuesday night.
NE
The northeaster is plotting its big comeback from Wednesday morning and into Thursday all day. It’s gonna come charging in as early as it can, and will steadily build all day long reaching a maximum of about 15 knots in the afternoon.
With a low tide at 8:45am on Wednesday, that morning is going to produce the goods for any surfers who can make it out through that pounding surf. Before the NE makes it too bumpy.
And although Durban will get some SW juice that day, it will be nothing like what the south and north coasts will look like that morning. Lines to the horizon and light winds until the tide turns. As the tide turns from low to high water moving in – that’s about when the onshore NE will start to pick up. Before that, the tide will be draining fast and little offshores will spring up all over to compensate for the fast-receding water and therefore air pressure. As the tide drains, it sucks air off the land to create those regional and sporadic offshores, in the face of prevailing high pressure systems. The east ruins this quicksmart so you got to get in early as possible in these situations.
Fishing
The fishing has been excellent everywhere. Kob and garrick making up for most of the excitement. With the odd handsome brushed in between. We will see exactly what fish are about with the Bear Report coming in later today. This valuable information will be posted right here on The Sardine News at around 5pm.
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Gallery
Sardines n Sighting Maps
It has been a fantastic sardine run this memorable 2024. And all the action has been logged right here on The Sardine News. This year’s map has been viewed 185,000 times and 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!
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.
Mannie Jorreiro tells all from Coffee Bay in the Deep Kei. Fishing and Surfing Report.
Mannie Jorreiro tells all from Coffee Bay in the Deep Kei. Fishing and Surfing Report.: Welcome back To the Sardine News. We are starting today off all the way down in Coffee Bay, deep Kei. Where Pro Fishing Guide Mannie Jorreiro is on the beach every morning.
It’s so cool having a new Sardine Spy onboard! Mannie is right In the thick of it down in Coffee Bay. Mbomvu to be exact. Which is like right next door to Coffee Bay.
Mannie is a Pro Fishing Guide for the area so please consider getting in touch if you are headed to Coffee Bay or surrounds. We can arrange guided fishing trips and accommodation in the right places. Sean on +27793269671 or umzimkulu@gmail.com.
Mannie catches a lot of fish. Watch this space!
Over to Adam Kandar in Durban…
Durban
Adam greets the South Wind coming in at Durban today 7am 11 October 2024: Ok back in Durban we have a sneaky little pair of low pressures holding back the east today. Adam Kamdar is on the scene early and reports on an unruly ocean today.
But with plenty of potential for the weekend as indicators indicate low swells, low winds and sunny skies!
All you have to do is choose a beach!
Thank you Adam.
If you are not subscribed to The Sardine News on YouTube you can do so right here…
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Sharks Board Upside Down at Isipingo
Who needs protecting from who?
Sharks Board Capsize at Isipingo in rough seas this morning – but who was swimming anyway?
With the recent great white shark tail washing up on the rocks at St Mike’s on the KZN South Coast recently, the Kwazulu Natal Sharks Board once again put themselves under the spotlight.
And today, they capsized an expensive vessel. With five souls on board. On a day when nobody should be in or on the water.
Anybody following the Sardine Reports would know that the swell is an unruly 2m plus. The wind is ugly as hell onshore. These two factors combined means that nobody should go out there. For anything. Least of all to mesh shark nets that kill dolphins, whales and great whites. Tigers too. Turtles. Rays. This is a very long list and you can read all about it on the Sardine News.
4PM Scotties 11 Oct 24 Ocean Coming Right by Cliff Bamber Beach Report
Cliff rounds the day off very nicely indeed!
Sardines n Sighting Maps
It has been a fantastic sardine run this memorable 2024. And all the action has been logged right here on The Sardine News. This year’s map has been viewed 185,000 times and 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!
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.
The Bear delivers our 8AM KZN Ocean Conditions Report this slightly choppy winter morning
The Bear delivers our 8AM KZN Ocean Conditions Report this slightly choppy winter morning: A big thank you to The Bear for delivering our KZN 8AM Ocean Conditions Report. The Bear is standing in for Adam Kamdar who has taken some well-deserved time off in the bush.
Over to The Bear…
Conditions
Are quite choppy this morning. Morning sickness as it’s known in the classics. But with the promise of a light wind from the south after lunch, today could also turn out to be a peach.
The south west wind will airbrush that ocean into perfection where it will stay the next few days of tranquility.
The water is warm and crystal clear in most places. Divers are diving! And some noteworthy catches are being made. It is a very good idea, as a fisherman, to keep tabs on these spearos. They hold all the answers. They actually see the fish and what they are up to down there.
As is often associated with calm weather like this, the tides are in neaps. Hardly moving much with a low co-efficient making things even calmer. This is a great time to be an ocean-goer.
Sardines
Are nowhere to be seen at the moment. However, we don’t ever lose hope because just as suddenly as the sardines dissapear, they reappear. Often right into the summer months.
