Tag: garrick

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Introducing The Sardine News HOTLINE

Introducing The Sardine News HOTLINE

Introducing The Sardine News HOTLINE: The Sardine News HOTLINE fired up at the beginning of the year and has operated wonderfully.

Each morning, our guys head down to the coast, and from the beach, submit a report to the HOTLINE. We have a star-studded cast of reporters whom you shall get to meet in the HOTLINE. The morning reports are not too many to be annoying, and there is no advertising or anything of the sort.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDvI-skjGYmrPsC6fbDjMCA/join

And this is how it works…

  • when you join on YouTube (R59 a month), you have the option to be added to the HOTLINE. You can also buy access right HERE for a tad cheaper (does not include the YouTube Members Section, but all else is included)
  • you can come and go as you please (some people leave the group a while and then ask to come back in when they need fishing info)
  • we update daily from up and down the coastlines of KZN and the Eastern Cape and even further some days, but this is our focus area
  • you are allowed/encouraged to chat with the HOTLINE contributors for your fishing intel needs – we got somebody everywhere for you
  • you get 20% discount on MYDO Products and certain others at thesardine.co.za/mydo (let me know when you want to make a purchase)

It’s a big deal for us to get a HOTLINE Member, and we really appreciate it; it goes a long way. And in return, you get a “virtual fishing guide team” working for you at all times. You can check ocean conditions in the daily reports and use our weather and ocean conditions reports to plan your fishing trip. And when you are fishing, we are at your service too – just contact us for intel, anytime, from anywhere!

Hot Summer: Alan at it Again with another Kob at the SandSpit November 2024
Hot Summer: Alan at it Again with another Kob at the SandSpit November 2024
Henry Giant Kob In Christmas Bay Sheffield Beach
Henry Giant Kob In Christmas Bay Sheffield Beach
Jason Heyne 31kg Daga Salmon
Jason Heyne 31kg Daga Salmon
Sean Lange releases all his rockies too. Caught in grunter alley...
Sean Lange releases all his rockies too

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.

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 – everything Umzimkulu
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
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts

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It’s ALL happening at Port Edward today with Steve Moriarty #garrick #shad

Its ALL happening at Port Edward today with Steve Moriarty #garrick #shad

It’s ALL happening at Port Edward today with Steve Moriarty #garrick #shad

It’s ALL happening at Port Edward today with Steve Moriarty #garrick #shad

welcome back to the Sardine News All the fish and more
welcome back Sardine News Saturday morning
beautiful calm
peaceful day so far so good except in Port Edward
it’s all happening in Port Edward
luckily we’ve got Steve Moriarty down there
our intrepid reporter who is covering everything for us
over to Steve
this next is Splash Rock
the conditions are looking gorgeous
predicting rain today bit of a east
but at the moment it’s after 7:00 on Saturday morning
the sea is so inviting
what a beautiful place I live at
I’m so blessed this is God’s country fellas
how’s it Cuz what’s your name Donovan
Donovan what did you lose them now my mate
hey a big garrick bro
were you throwing spoon throwing spoon yeah
here is it here
show me that lure come closer
hey and you lost it right by the rocks yeah
this lure is it from Basil Manning
sorry you lost your fish man
I was gonna put this fish on the video hey
I’m going back I’m going back
hey thanks Steve on the spot reporting lekker hey
anyway I hope that guy gets his garrick
there are quite a few garrick about the place
this is a perfect garrick fishing day of all time
today is the day you can get your
you can get close to those garrick today
that’s for sure anyway
check this guy’s nice fish over here
okay let’s have a look around for some more news
ah well
luckily the bridge is always news
the U Mzumkulu bridge been closed for like 3 months now
and the achievement levels are astonishing
to say the least so
Brad Tanner come all the way down from Durban
to do some fishing with us
make a few lures and things
and this mouth was open this this one here and
not anymore don’t know what to say or do but yeah
there’s big problems happening here
don’t don’t forget to like and subscribe
we’ll check back in with you in the future Ciao
how’s it folks 10 of September
and having a look at the bridge
come to throw a quick line
but EWW the east is going
there’s our team member Brad from MYDO
he’s even given up but mainly to come
and have a look at what’s happening with the river
we’ve got high tide in about
5:20 so it’s about a half an hour from now
and we’re gonna see what’s gonna happen
with this slipway here
the water is starting to run over
it’s the new dugout that they have
but the problem is
the shore break is just dumping up sand and just
these banks that’s what it does
so I reckon it’s it’s gonna get higher
and we can see some waves coming up
but it’s the river that needs to push out
that’s where all the pressure is
bodyboarders need to actually make this place into
a standing wave and that would oh check
here we go there’s a bit of an effort
let’s see in 20 minutes time
okay thanks Emilio and Brad
we’re back at the well deck and checking things out
there’s someone casting a paddle tail
or something down there
and the conditions are absolutely wonderful perfect
unbelievable really good the water is clean
light Westerly
blowing or southerly or something like that
another guy fishing over here
okay don’t forget like and subscribe check you tomorrow

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.

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 – everything Umzimkulu
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
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts

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The Sardine News Late Edition 22 August 2025 FULL Reports #shad #sardines #bridges #fishing #report

The Sardine News Late Edition 22 August 2025 FULL Reports #shad #sardines #bridges #fishing #report

The Sardine News Late Edition 22 August 2025 FULL Reports #shad #sardines #bridges #fishing #report

The Sardine News Late Edition 22 August 2025 FULL Reports #shad #sardines #bridges #fishing #report

welcome back to the Sardine News ALL the fish and more
hey a big welcome back to you
the Sardine News in the afternoon edition
Chelsea says howzit alright
we got some very good news today
like really good news and I’m gonna start it off yeah
and yes
that was our good friend Jace and now here is the very
very good news
the guys deployed a net and guess who is back
welcome back Kioshin
so guys I’m back
I thought it was over
but I’m back and so is the rest of the team
Veez One and uh
we’re back on the beach um
sort of walking again
so we decided to net today and we are at um Caradeen
in front of Karridene Hotel
and we got a nice net about an hour ago
so there’s a lot of sardine action
I believe there’s still a lot of action on the coast
and uh yeah
Veez One is a nice net if anyone wants fresh fish
we are selling at uh at Winklespruit
uh near Green Roof
at the entrance to Green Roof
so the team is back and I’m back and back on the beach
and uh yeah
sardine run 2025 isn’t over
yeah it’s really good to see you again Kioshin
you do such a really good job down there
thank you very much for all the reports
and it’s so nice to see you up and riding again okay
moving right on
morning guys
beautiful morning stunning day
couple of nice shad
came out here early
and then they’ve just went off the bite
waters perfect
a lot of peckers around
well
couldn’t work ask for a better day
take time off come fish
yeah while we at the block check this out
thanks Roosta
for sending us this update from such a cool angle
but yeah
I don’t know what to say or what to comment about this
because I’m sure some people are gonna get upset hey
yeah yeah
anyway they look like they’re digging at the bottom
at the other side as well
so I don’t know I just don’t I’ve got no comment
moving along
morning all from the pond in Port Edward
not much shad action going on here
there’s quite a crowd gathered there with the guys
with the big sticks I’m gonna hang around and see
I think someone’s hooked something big
garrick came out here the other day on
it was close to 20 kilos
just taking the beauty of the surrounds here
it’s absolutely stunning
light north easterly
8 to 10 K’s an hour making fishing still fine
nothing wrong
anyway this is me from Port Edward saying goodbye
tight lines everyone
okay thank you Roosta
Allen Steve for your reports
we’re gonna go over to Ian
who’s got something to tell us thanks Ian
good uh
morning everyone
coming to you from the lower south coast
uh this awesome Friday morning
um all of you guys know me
I’m the uh squidgits man
so this morning um
we will head down to the rocks and uh
I’m gonna use my trustworthy bait squidgits
so we’ll keep you updated on uh
how it goes if we catch or not
um I had some guys um
WhatsApp me last night with awesome catches of um
I believe they were some other fish caught
but um they never sent me any posts
I will see if I can get hold of them
and ask them to share but they got some big black tile
I did post it last night as
as as it came in
so yes um guys
um while we’re here um
I believe there is another supply of squid guts on the
um uh
on on the Durban
Durbs area they’re calling themselves squid guts uh
comes in a bottle similar to mine with an orange lid
guys um
I I wish them all the luck
I wish them tight lines and real runs
but guys if
if if
if it does not say squidgits
it’s not squidgits and I’m saying this with a reason
it’s not a matter of just sourcing bait
packaging it and sending it out there
um I’ve been um
doing squidgits now for more than 10 years
so I have fine tune is the bait
um so there is a secret twist to the squidgits
and so yeah um
like you say um
proof in the pudding and the guys are doing well
um
and um
yeah the posts have just been streaming in on
on how um
fishing has changed uh
things in the last couple of months
but anyhow guys
um I’m not really worried about that
um just if it doesn’t say squidgits
it’s not squidgits so yeah
it’s up to you uh
to decide
um what you wanna do
what you wanna buy
what you wanna spend to waste your money on
so guys uh
from me
um I’m heading on down now to the water’s edge
uh and I will be using squidgits
the golden bait and um yeah
let’s see what we can get this morning
hopefully I am blessed with some good fish
there has been a increase
a lot amount of small fish in the water
um so yeah
they’ve been going to town
and not getting the big fish to the bite
so yeah with that said
uh let me head on down
uh Sun’s almost almost up
uh we have a bit of cloud
so maybe give me a little bit more darker
morning hours to fishing so from me
uh down here on the south coast from the squidgits’s man
I’ll be in touch uh during the course of the morning
uh to all you guys out there on the rocks
stay safe tart lines and real runs
so good morning guys
just a recap of this morning’s uh broadcast
um yeah
uh bit hazy this morning
the sun’s coming up a lot of sardines in the water
a hell of a lot of sardines
but yes on the squidgits
the golden proof in the pudding
this guy jumping around there we go
you just keep quiet a bit
you can see squidgits
and a danger right in the corner there
so yeah guys proof in the pudding
uh even on rough days yeah
we’re getting fish cheers guys and tight lines
and then finally we would like to thank
the people who ordered MYDOs this week
and joined the HOTLINE
you’re the lifeblood of the sardine
thank you thank you
and thank you again um
we’re gonna just go out mentioning National Garrick Day
it’s coming up you know
in a month or so
but there’s a cool video that I posted this morning
that we made in 2008
might be our first sardine news video of all time
but it’s on I’m not gonna put it on now
cause it’s like 9 minutes or something like that
but it’s on the channel somewhere
and it’s highly recommended alright
don’t forget to join the HOTLINE to support us too
that’s our biggest thing welcome Roger
welcome Sharon welcome Callum
welcome all those new people who have just joined up
right if you can just also like and subscribe
that’s just good enough for us to thank you
thank you and thank you out

Sardines and Sighting Maps

Check out our annual Sardine Run Map! It also features good catches, marine sightings and boating incidents.

Download our app to your phone or device, accept notifications, and you will never miss a single sardine.

Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps…

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

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
masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water
fishbazaruto.com – dreams
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts

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National Garrick Day at The Sandspit in 2008

National Garrick Day back in 2008 at The Sandspit

National Garrick Day at the Sandspit in 2008

National Garrick Day: coming soon to a beach near you! Here is a classic old video shot about 15 years ago at the famous Sandspit in Port Shepstone. So much fun – Raggie nearly got chowed by a Zambie. Two people catching the same fish. And many more hilarious scenes as National Garrick Day unfolds for here you to experience the vibe…

National Garrick Day is a once-a-year spectacle that electrifies the KZN coastline. As the sardines surge northward in their annual winter migration, they bring with them a host of predators—including the mighty garrick (Lichia amia), also known locally as leervis.

These powerful shoaling hunters arrive in force, feasting on sardines and other baitfish with reckless abandon. After gorging themselves, it’s time to spawn. Garrick typically spawn in estuarine and surf zones with structure and baitfish, often triggered by water temperature and baitfish abundance. The spawning is synchronized with the sardine run, and the garrick gather in groups to release their eggs and milt into the current.

Once the spawning frenzy subsides, the garrick become ravenous again—setting the stage for National Garrick Day. For two to three days, the bite is absolutely explosive. The usual hotspots like the Sandspit are lined with live baiters, while others throw poppers, plugs, and surface lures. Hundreds of garrick are caught during this window, and anyone with a fishing rod can join the action.

Garrick are found along the entire South African coastline, especially in estuaries, surf zones, and tidal rivers. They prefer warm water and grow rapidly—reaching about 11 cm in six months. Sexual maturity is reached at 75–85 cm fork length, typically around 3–4 years old. Larger specimens (90 cm to 1.5 m) are 5–9 years old, with some reaching up to 2 m and 50 kg.

It’s important to note that garrick are SASSI Red-listed, meaning they’re a no-sale species in South Africa. Recreational anglers must adhere to strict regulations: a minimum size of 70 cm fork length and a bag limit of one per person per day.

To stay in the loop and maximize your chances, join The Sardine News HOTLINE—a WhatsApp group dedicated to its paying members. We keep everyone informed about where the fish are and what they’re doing. Members are encouraged to contact our sardine spies up and down the coast, and we help arrange accommodation and guiding where needed. We also offer virtual guiding for free to all our members. Just ask, and we’ll chip in to help.

National Garrick Day is more than just a fishing event—it’s a celebration of nature, community, and the thrill of the chase. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a curious newcomer, this is your chance to be part of something truly spectacular.

Here we have a clip of Evert at the Margate Pier recently, also catching a lekker garrick…

If any of you guys are planning to make National Garrick Day down here on the lower south coast of KZN, and you need accommodation and advice…or guiding, drop us a line on +27793269671 or email umzimkulu@gmail.com and we can hook you up.

Sardines and Sighting Maps

Check out our annual Sardine Run Map! It also features good catches, marine sightings and boating incidents.

Download our app to your phone or device, accept notifications, and you will never miss a single sardine.

Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps…

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

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
masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water
fishbazaruto.com – dreams
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts

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December 2023 Fishing Report for KZN in VIDEO

Garrick in December down at Plettenberg Bay. Kaie Else the happy angler...

December 2023 Fishing Report for KZN

December 2023 Fishing Report for KZN: shad, shad, and more shad! Which also means garrick, kob and all kinds of big gamefish in the surf zone.

Shad Season is OPEN

And, you can get fishing licenses online! This is big news in a country whose post office is a derelict shell of what it was 20 years ago. The post office stopped paying rent to its many satellite offices that were filling their vital role. And so where could you buy a fishing license? And then you’d go to the beach to have some dummy enforcing fishing licenses that you can’t even get?!

Kob

“Wherever the shad are biting during the day – that’s where the kob will be at night” – Louis Posthumous

It’s been a helluva year for catching big kob in the surf zone. Some are released. Some just aren’t. If you have a huge refrigerator and a huge family, then great, start the endless job of processing that big fish. It will turn you off catching another one for sure.

Rather just release those breeding fish. At about 8 or 9 years old, the kob, scientifically known as Argyrosomus japonicus, reaches sexual maturity. This is equal to about a 8 or 9 kg fish. So a 20kg fish, theoretically 20 years old, has had 10 seasons to throw some kob parties in the Umtamvuna. A 40kg fish (they get bigger!), will have had 30 seasons of breeding.

Upon these many revelations, the law was changed. And as such, tries to protect the big breeders. The thinking is that, at smaller sizes, these fish shoal in numbers. So to harvest a small percentage of these bigger numbers, would be a lot less detrimental than allowing the slaughter of the less populous breeding stock.

Let the big ones go!

Surf fishing. Gerrard-Powells-100lb-kob-being-manhandled-back-to-the-water-correctly
Gerrard-Powells-100lb-kob-being-manhandled-back-to-the-water-correctly
Koblet by Josh Herrison near Port St John
Koblet by Josh Herrison near Port St Johns
December small kobbies
Kobbies in the Cape
Kobbies in the Cape
Brown water in KZN - good or bad?
And it’s Chris Lepan again with another Umzimkulu Estuary kob.

Garrick

If the shad and other bait are prevalent, then the garrick will stick around. They do not like dirty water (unlike the kob). Sometimes the water stays clean through December and January in some KZN places. And there are still garrick coming out at Vidal and St. Lucia, way north. That have to traverse us on their way home to the Cape.

Again, it’s the shad that are the main attraction and oftentimes you will be catching shad in the shore break and the next thing the garrick come in and destroy the whole show. Spectacular to see garrick smashing like this.

But down south in the clean water…garrick are out and about and looking for a fight! Kathryn Els show us how…yesterday!

Katie Else with December 2023 Garrick down Plett way…
Jason Heyne of the Master Watermen and his Margate shot Garrick
Jason Heyne of the Master Watermen and his Margate shot Garrick
Tagging and releasing garrick off Umzimkulu River mouth in 1987
Tagging and releasing garrick off Umzimkulu River mouth in 1987. Karl and Roosta are now 40yrs!
Wayne Trelawney in Port St Johns with his dream National Garrick Day fish. Wayne responsible kept this single fish and made all sorts of delicacies with it, that lasted him months.
Wayne Trelawney in Port St Johns with his dream National Garrick Day fish. Wayne responsible kept this single fish and made all sorts of delicacies with it, that lasted him months.

Dorado

The current hasn’t really kicked in yet. But there are fish about. There is a dorado fishing competition on down south at the moment. Boats are allowed to launch up and down. With the goings-on held down in Ramsgate. A very well-run event.

The shoal of angry dorado move in and harass the shad flat out
The shoal of angry dorado move in and harass the shad flat out
Holding on tight this dorado refuses to let my bait go even under 3kgs of drag
Holding on tight this dorado refuses to let my bait go even under 3kgs of drag
Dorado Strike Analysis - Strike Two - the dorado has got the shad by the head and is performing evasive meanuevres
Dorado Strike Analysis – Strike Two – the dorado has got the shad by the head and is performing evasive meanuevres
Dorado Strike Analysis - Strike Three - another headshot and she refuses to let go
Dorado Strike Analysis – Strike Three – another headshot and she refuses to let go
Dorado Strike Analysis - Strike One - the Dorado comes straight in for the kill - zero hesitation
Dorado Strike Analysis – Strike One – the Dorado comes straight in for the kill – zero hesitation

Sailfish

These widespread fish do follow seasons and patterns like most fish. But they are the ones most likely to just pitch up out of nowhere. Fuklk of surprises, but they definitely are here for the same reasons that the dorado are here. The halocline with it;s structural characteristics. And the shoals and shaols of mackerel, shad, maasbanker and red-eyes that also like this place this time of the year.

Vilankulos weather and fishing in November
Vilankulos weather and fishing in November
Although it is blue marlin season up north, sailfish also come in to play.
Although it is blue marlin season up north, sailfish also come in to play.
Sailfish in Madagascar
Sailfish in Madagascar (c) Duarte Rato
The annual sailfish competition off Vilanculos
Fly fishermens dream
December time for the odd sailfish
December time for the odd sailfish
Sailfish ladies eye the trophy at the Vilankulos Sailfish 2017
Sailfish ladies eye the trophy at the Vilankulos Sailfish 2017

King Mackerel

No fireworks as of yet but give those spearos a patch of clean water and they will find out for sure if the couta have pitched up for this same baitball party. Last year and the year before, November produced some crocodiles. This year so far has been quiet.

The first couta of our 2023 season
The first couta of our 2023 season December
Kayak couta spread coming soon...
Kayak couta spread coming soon…
Jonno Gouws with the very first couta of the 2021 season. In 2020! 27 November to be exact.
Jonno Gouws with the very first couta of the 2021 season. In 2020! 27 November to be exact.
SKZN Fishing Report 22 May 2022
SKZN Fishing Report 22 May 2022. Shaun Simpson with a croc at Hibberdene earlier this week.
December for big coutas
December for big coutas

Catch the first couta of the season, send the pics and story to me, and you will get R500 to spend in the MYDO store.

If you feel like targeting these trophies, get in touch and we can arrange species specific holidays for you. For this coming up season, stay with us at The Umzimkulu Marina where Umzimkulu Adrenalin can get you out to the couta.

Check out our MYDO YouTube Channel right HERE.

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