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Elton of GoDive Sardine Baitball Report from Cintsa #sardinerun2025 #sardinemigration #sardine #news

Sardine Baitball by Nicolene Olckers

Elton of GoDive Sardine Baitball Report from Cintsa #sardinerun2025 #sardinemigration #sardine #news

Elton of GoDive Sardine Baitball Report from Cintsa #sardinerun2025 #sardinemigration #sardine #news :another crisp wintery morning down here in southern KZN. The offshore winds are blowing daily and this whole week is dominated mainly by south systems swinging across the country. Causing this offshore drift of air every morning – you can see the smoke from bush fires, cane fires and people whisping out over the sea. Makes for spectacular sunrises and seascapes.

We have a gentle southwesterly blowing later this morning, aiming to top out at around 12 to 15 knots as it takes over from the offshore from about low tide onwards. Later in the day, as the tide pushes in, the wind will swing even further to the east to become a proper onshore.

The ocean recovers really fast in this place at this time of the year. And often a bit of east in the afternoon will pull the prevailing SSW swell into the bays and coves for surfing for the next morning. Many nuances in the atmosphere are at play right now that produce these perfect conditions.

Meanwhile, down south in Cintsa…sardine baitball report by Elton…

all the fish and more fish and more fish and more fish
Hey morning just an update from
Cintsa uh week 4 has just kicked off
yesterday was a little bit quiet
didn’t really find much at all um
and then today all of a sudden in the cold
wet windy um
weather there was there’s quite a lot of action
right from in front of Cintsa in the bay
20 meters deep water nice clear water uh
lots of sardines lots of gannets
and then
some of the videos are also from the East London side
so
one of the boats went all the way down to East London
found great action in front there yeah
the other boats in Cintsa
all the clients on both boats are in the water
at the moment uh
I think um
the last update I heard is that the
one boats
on their third or fourth bait ball for the morning
yeah and they only launched at 8:00 so it’s really
really good conditions at the moment
lots of sardines coming through
lots of gannets
lots of dolphins and I will update further when uh
when I hear more
wow guys it’s bait fish all over the place
Mike
Mike
Mike
Mike
Mike
Mike
Mike
Mike
Mike
Mike
Mike
Mike

Sardines and Sightings

Join the Sardine News HOTLINE for 2025 and Neva Miss a Single Sardine! We first upload to YouTube, and then progressively up to the rest of the social platforms (Facey, X, etc) as the bandwidth allows.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN as a Member on YouTube, and receive all these perks too…

Member of WhatsApp Sardine News HOTLINE, access to restricted content on thesardine.co.za, LIVE Broadcasts from the Beach during the sardine run. And direct contact with the Sardine Spy network team.

You can also get around the season in a real fun way by checking out our annual Sardine Run Maps. This is a real groovy way to follow the progress of the sardines each year.

You can even 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

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The Sardine News and Windy.com

The Sardine News and Windy.com

The Sardine News and Windy.com: Good morning and thank you for checking in with us. Ok, conditions first – the conditions analysis goes out nice and early each day. Published on The Sardine News website. And into that will go the news as the day unfolds.

Starting with today! And Adam’s

On a scale of one to ten, today is an 11 plus. The ocean is big and glassy, painted smooth by a brisk and crisp offshore wind. That will blow right through this low tide and into mid-morning. Where it might hang about or swing gently onshore, as is predicted. High tide after lunch.

Talking of predictions, we have struck a deal with Windy.com that allows us to use their fantastic visualisations for our reports! Head on over to https://windy.com if you are ever uncertain of the weather. Hit the play button at the bottom left and watch as your future is revealed. Better than a crystal ball!

From the Windy.com animation, you can see the two cold fronts that we are in the middle of. That next one is only due mid-next week.

Surf

The SSW swell at 14 seconds will be fantastic at certain spots up and down the coast. Durban town looks a bit flat today. The Tweni 2’s surfing contest at Umtentweni is staged for tomorrow down the south coast, and the surf is going to be perfect down there!

A rising barometer at 1030 means east conditions on their way. Afternoon onshores are an everyday thing now. Luckily, the ocean recovers from the chop overnight.

Fish

Except for the lack of shad in KZN, the fishing is excellent. Luckily, this recent cold front might excite them shad all into the same sardine fever that has gotten hold of us.

Garrick and kingfish have been grabbing the headlines, along with medium to small sized koblets. Out at sea, couta is the name of the game. The recent UKFC kayak on the north coast of KZN event had phenomenal catches with a dozen fish around or over 20 kgs. Get your MYDOs in the Sardine News tackle store online.

Currents

And finally the Agulhas current…is screaming and we can clearly see how the counter current carrying the sardines has crept so far up into the Transkei. And is literally cut off now. We can see the Natal Pulse dynamic in full swing as the continental shelf diverts the Agulhas into a literal whirlpool.

Sardines and Sightings

Join the Sardine News HOTLINE
Join the Sardine News HOTLINE

Join the Sardine News HOTLINE for 2025 and Neva Miss a Single Sardine! We first upload to YouTube, and then progressively up to the rest of the social platforms (Facey, X, etc) as the bandwidth allows.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN as a Member on YouTube, and receive all these perks too…

Member of WhatsApp Sardine News HOTLINE, access to restricted content on thesardine.co.za, LIVE Broadcasts from the Beach during the sardine run. And direct contact with the Sardine Spy network team.

You can also get around the season in a real fun way by checking out our annual Sardine Run Maps. This is a real groovy way to follow the progress of the sardines each year.

You can even 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

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King Mackerel Attack Behaviour

King Mackerel Attack Behaviour

MYDO Baitswimming is an artform
MYDO Baitswimming is an artform

King Mackerel Attack Behaviour: it is BIG king mackerel time aka ‘croc couta’ down here on the south coast of Natal, South Africa. In the olden days we would have been shining spoons, making traces and loading our KPs with Maxima Green. These days it is every jig imaginable, ready-to-go traces and 50lb braid on Stellas!

Technology!

But way back then we also used MYDOs. Invented by genius fishermen and designer Brian Davey in the mid 80s – the innovative baitswimmers made it possible for anybody to swim a bait – beautifully.

The lures work using hydrodynamic principles of alternating high and low pressure zones creating action that is transferred to the bait as a swimming motion. As you can clearly see in the little video above.

“Putting life back into your bait!”

The MYDOs and traces are infinitely adjustable and adaptable to all kinds of bait in all kinds of fishing situations. They also swim live baits just great and you can use the relevant weights to keep your baits away from each other as you work the entire water column. MYDOs range from 1/4 ounce to 5 ounces and even more in some use cases.

Enjoy the particularly clear water in this video…!

You can buy your own MYDOs right on this website in the online shop HERE. Or if you are of a foreign land, please use the MYDO International website at this LINK.

But the all-time best MYDO experience for you is to get in touch with me Sean either on WhatsApp or cell +27793269671 or email umzimkulu@gmail.com. That way we can chat through your target species and the areas that you are gonna be chasing them in. If you like, we can prepare an analysis of the area you are going to. We monitor warm patches, haloclines, thermoclines and between Captain Duarte Rato and myself, we have been on the ocean in enough places to know where to look for what.

Join the MYDO underground network easily by subscribing to our YouTube Channel ‘MYDO Tackle Talk’ at this link HERE. Here we post videos on recent catches and experiences. Plus regular how-to videos about making traces and catching fish. It is a great place to interact with other MYDO board riders. To share information and ideas. And to get advice if you need.

Gallery

A collection of images to give you a perspective on MYDOs and how they are deployed…

Sardines and Sightings

Check out our annual Sardine Run Map! 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

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On The Edge: KZN Floods Update

KZN Floods Update

On The Edge: KZN Floods Update

On The Edge: KZN Floods Update featuring Umhlanga, Tiger Rocks, The Cutting, Black Rock, Scottburgh, Umzumbe, Sunwich, Umtentweni…presented by The Bear, Chelsea Dog and the Usual Suspects.

A massive thank you to Cliff Bamber for obtaining permission for us to use some of the fabulous WOW (World of Wings) material the guys shot on Tuesday. These perspectives tell all as the brown water and the salt water argue it out as they are pressed against each other by the currents and counter-currents.

Dodging Bullets

Although here in southern Kwazulu Natal – we are far from out of the woods yet, we can so far breathe a sigh of relief that we were not dealt the same treatment as inland of Port Edward, to Umtata and beyond, were over the last few days. They got hammered. Trees breaking and all sorts. The Umtamvuna flooded The Pont completely as a result of this torrential storm weather inland. You can see some of that craziness in the video too…

Sardines and Sighting Maps

We have started the 2025  Sardine Run Map! Download our app to your phone or device, accept notifications, and you will never miss a single sardine.

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 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. Last year we started to log more whale and dolphin sightings. And we even had a shipwreck! This year we have had two sailboat incidents already. PLUS, we have already logged some sardines!

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

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When a Water Sample is Not a Water Sample

When a Water Sample is NOT a Water Sample

When a Water Sample is Not a Water Sample

When a Water Sample is Not a Water Sample: For the past two weeks, here in South Africa, a heated debate has been brewing over water quality sampling protocols in large water bodies. While the technical jargon—centred around “statistical representativity”—might put you to sleep, the public spectacle of elected officials navigating this minefield has been quite the show.

To grasp this issue, we need to tackle “statistical representativity” without inducing a nap. Let’s use Rand Water as our example.

Once upon a time, the South African economy was booming, thanks to the Witwatersrand goldfields. But extracting gold required water, and the Transvaal Highveld, a dry grassland, had little to offer. Enter Rand Water, created to supply water to the goldfields. As people flocked to the mines, towns sprouted, and trees were planted to combat dust, creating the largest man-made forest on the planet. Rand Water became the backbone of civilization in Gauteng.

But what does this have to do with statistical representativity in water quality sampling? Gauteng’s water supply relies on the Vaal River System, which has suffered from pollution over time. Rand Water needed to monitor these large water bodies effectively. Enter satellite surveillance.

The question arose: Can satellites monitor a large water body better than traditional grab sampling (taking a litre of water from anywhere in the lake)? Rand Water launched a research program to find out, using satellites to monitor light reflection off the Vaal Dam while taking grab samples to calibrate the data. Cyanobacteria, which absorb light, were measured to quantify their presence in the water.

The results were impressive. The Vaal Dam, plagued by eutrophication (nutrient enrichment from sewage), often experiences cyanobacteria blooms, affecting drinking water treatment. Rand Water’s monitoring program found that grab samples taken every two weeks were not representative of the entire water body. Satellite imaging, however, provided a more accurate picture.

Now, let’s compare this to Cape Town’s Blue Flag beach status debate, where one grab sample per week is taken to claim water safety. If grab sampling isn’t representative for the Vaal Dam, how can it be for the ocean?

Rand Water’s two-year research program, in collaboration with Cyanolakes, developed an accurate reporting protocol for cyanobacteria and algae. The data is now featured in all Rand Water reports on Vaal system water quality. The study found that cyanobacteria levels correlate with rainfall events, and satellite imaging is useful for detecting trends.

In conclusion, statistically representative sampling is crucial for public trust. Rand Water’s pioneering efforts in this field should be applauded. As for Blue Flag beaches, reliable safety reporting requires scientifically robust protocols. Just because something worked in the past doesn’t mean it’s still effective today.

So, let’s not demonize scientists when politicians misunderstand their message. Instead, let’s celebrate the advancements in science, engineering, and technology that help protect our water systems. And they all lived happily ever after—thanks to evolving science and technology.

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

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