Tag: KZN south coast

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Whales eat Sardines?

Whales eat Sardines 25 June 2024 by Kevin in Qora

Whales eat Sardines?

Whales eat Sardines? Explained by Kevin in Qora.

Whales eat Sardines 25 June 2024 by Kevin in Qora

Howzit everyone, this is Kevin at Qora Mouth. Just north of Mazepa Bay in the Southern Transkei. Well, we’ve heard of two lovely nets that have come in at Pennington. Big, big nets. I’ve seen some of the footage. I mean, these are proper nets, guys. So, these sides are starting to move closer into shore. And they have to be fairly close for the netters to actually be able to reach them.

But we’re hearing reports of plenty, plenty shoals. A little bit too far offshore still. But stretching from Amanzimtoti right down to the wild coast. So, yeah. Lots more coming behind these chaps. And you know, the sea’s been very flat over the last couple of days, but I can report from me here that there’s a lovely South swell on the way up to Durban.

The waves are pumping down here, probably got a two to three meter swell on its way. And that’s definitely going to assist these sardines because what happens with the swell is that as that swell comes up the coast because of the friction with the shallower water The swell picks up and the sardines know that they move much closer into shore because the closer they get in, the more they can use that wave energy to move up the coast.

Because that south swell is a south to north movement and we know the current is a north to south. So they use those swells to actually ride on the surface and that helps them to move in their migratory path. So yeah. Good news. In the next couple of days, we should see a major movement of these sardines because the water in Durban is still sitting around the 20 degree mark, which is perfect for these sardines.

Yeah. But anyway, let me also take this opportunity to just correct myself on something that I said yesterday in a report that you know, we know that these humpback whales at this time of year, they move out of the Antarctic. and then move up to the Mozambique channel where they breed and then and also give birth because the gestation period for a humpback whale is between 9 and 16 months.

So they’re breeding and they’re giving birth, all happens up in the warmer waters, which gives the calves a much better survival rate. And I found this out today because I was researching it because a lot of people pointed out to me. because of my last report, that these humpback whales do actually eat sardines.

And we know that they are actually plankton feeders and that’s their primary diet. That’s, they live off Antarctic and very nutrient rich waters, but yeah, they actually do eat sardines. And that’s awesome news because that just proves to me one more thing that you know, nature is just amazing guys.

And these marine ecosystems and the marine environment is so synchronized and you have these symbiotic relationships between different species. So this sardine run coincides at exactly the same time as the humpback whale migration. So obviously these sods are also a food source for them as they’re heading up into the warmer water, which is just freaking amazing.

So yeah, I’m sorry for the misinformation, but I hope yeah, I’ve also learned something. The only thing I do know is that. The more I think I know, the more I realize how little I do know. So anyway, thanks for the correction guys. And yeah, it’s wonderful news that these sardines are also being fed on by the, by the humpbacks as they migrate.

Anyway, that’s all I got for today. Let’s keep it real guys. As we always say, conserve and protect, keep those beaches tidy. And you know, if the public are going down just to watch the sardine action, if you see trash on the beach, just pick it up. Pick it up and go put it in a trash can, even if it’s not yours, because it definitely helps.

And that’s what we just need to do as human beings. Look after it. Cool guys. We will chat tomorrow. We’ll update you as things happen. Cheers.

Thank you Kevin!

Affiliated YouTube Channels

https://youtube.com/@Brucifire – highly entertaining surf reporting

https://youtube.com/@thesardinenews – neva miss a single sardine

https://youtube.com/@mydotackletalk – highly technical sport fishing

https://youtube.com/@surflaunchingsouthernafrica – getting out there safely

https://youtube.com/@waterwoes – complain here

Affiliated websites

https://umzimkulu.co.za – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
https://umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –  sardine run coming up
https://thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine
https://masterwatermen.co.za – news from deep down
https://brucifire.co.za – surf and conditions reporting
https://fishbazaruto.com – your dreams are out there
https://mydofishinglures.co.za – technical sport fishing

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Afternoon Sardines Roundup by Kevin in Qora 23 June 2024 GOOD WATER TEMPS! #sardinerun2024 #sardine #run #2024 #sardines

Afternoon Sardines News 23 June 2024 by Kevin

Afternoon Sardines Roundup by Kevin in Qora 23 June 2024 GOOD WATER TEMPS! #sardinerun2024 #sardine #run #2024 #sardines

Afternoon Sardines Roundup by Kevin in Qora 23 June 2024 GOOD WATER TEMPS! #sardinerun2024 #sardine #run #2024 #sardines Kevin is back! It feels like an eternity since we have been on our own. Kevin got the seasonal Transkei flu bug. But is back already with this afternoon’s sardine report!

How’s it, chaps? This is Kevin at Cochemouth, just north of Mazepa Bay in the southern Transkei. Sorry you haven’t heard from me for a couple of days. I’ve been down with the flu, so you probably have got a bit of a croaky voice still, but let’s try and give you a summary of the last few days while I’ve been absent.

Not many nets, nets came out, prior to today, but we’ve now heard of two nets that have come out in the Shelley Beach area right by the Ski Boat Club. One this morning and one just now this afternoon. There’s also reporting of shoals around Issa Pingo and even up in Amanzimtoti side. There’s people reporting that there are sardines offshore.

So I think what we can attribute this to is the water temperature drop. Thank you Adam Kamdar for your update on the temperatures. I got a temperature from Durban this morning, the water was sitting at about 21 degrees. And Adam is saying that it’s now at about 20 generally. But he was finding some cold patches out offshore.

Of about 16 degrees. So this is exactly what we were waiting for. The sardines are now going to have lots of reason To move around the bluff and move on to the Durban beach front and keep moving northwards up the north coast This is what they need. They need water around the 20 degree mark or lower. So yeah, this is all good news chaps Uh, let’s see what the next couple days brings but All we can do is look at the current conditions and give our forecasts based on that, but this is what we’re going to say now is that we’re going to see a major movement of these shoals that have been lingering back sitting on the south coast because of the warmer water ahead of them and thankfully they didn’t move out into the They still hug the coast, but a couple of kilometres out, but they’re going to definitely move in closer now, and they’re going to have all those predators on their backs, which is going to push them towards the shore, and I expect they’ll move past the bluff and into the Durban area fairly soon, over the next day or so, and then they’ll start heading north.

As well. You know, their migratory instincts push them North no matter what happens. They want to go North. That’s just where they migrating to. So yeah, this is all good news. Good news for the netters. Good news for the public. Good news for the fishermen. So yeah, we’ll update you as things change.

Anyway, that’s all I got for now. Afternoon sardines! Cheers.

Affiliated YouTube Channels

https://youtube.com/@Brucifire – highly entertaining surf reporting

https://youtube.com/@thesardinenews – neva miss a single sardine

https://youtube.com/@mydotackletalk – highly technical sport fishing

https://youtube.com/@surflaunchingsouthernafrica – getting out there safely

https://youtube.com/@waterwoes – complain here

Affiliated websites

https://umzimkulu.co.za – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
https://umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –  sardine run coming up
https://thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine
https://masterwatermen.co.za – news from deep down
https://brucifire.co.za – surf and conditions reporting
https://fishbazaruto.com – your dreams are out there
https://mydofishinglures.co.za – technical sport fishing

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Sardine Run 24 might be over already?

Sardine Run 24 is over 15 June 2024 by Kevin in Qora

Sardine Run 24 might be over already?

Sardine Run 2024 might be over already? Kevin answers this question and a few more in today’s edition of The Sardine News.

How’s it everyone? This is Kevin from Qora Mouth, just north of Mazepa Bay in the southern Transkei. So yeah, it’s been a quiet day again for the third day in a row. We’ve heard of one net that came out at Pennington, a very small net, and guys are wondering what has happened to the sardines. So let’s just do a little recap of what is actually happening here.

The sardines that come off the Agulhas Bank, which is where they spend the summer months. It’s off the tip of Africa. And then wintertime, they come off the banks because they are a migratory species. And the whole biomass of the shoal moves as a shoal up the west coast of Africa towards northern Namibia, southern Angola, where they breed and they spawn.

Very nutrient-rich water. And then At the end of winter, they head out deeper and they move back to the Agulhas Bank in kind of a cycle. And the sardine run is just the splinter group that took a wrong turn off the tip of Africa and they moved up the east coast. So the sardine run is actually the splinter group that isn’t supposed to be there.

It was supposed to be part of the main shoal but because of the cold upwellings and the nutrient-rich water that’s brought up by the Benguela current, they move up the east coast of South Africa and what they do is they follow this cold plume and when they get to the KZN waters They actually are reaching extremely warm water.

I got a report today that the water on off Durban beachfront is at 22. 7 degrees Celsius, which is way too warm for these sardines to survive in. So I doubt that these shoals will reach much further than Durban, even though we have seen some minor cast netting happening off of Balito. I’m going to say that.

You know, these sardines have now reached the limit of, of the cold water plume. It’s now dissipating into the warm Gullis current. And they now are going to be starting to head out into the deeper ocean and looking for cold water. And once they find that cold water, they then get caught in the southward current and there’ll be moving back to the Agulhas Bank.

So yeah, that’s kind of where it’s at, but you know, You know, it’s not all dead yet. We have just seen some footage of possible shoal off of Port Edward coming through. I’m seeing, you know, it was just a still photo. I’m seeing some discoloration in the water, but that could also be wind. Wind sometimes plays tricks with the mind.

And people give us false reports. So I don’t see any predator activity. I’m not seeing any gannets And there are so many gannets up in that area right now of the south coast Because they’ve been feeding for the last week or so. So yeah, I’m going to take it with a pinch of salt But let’s hope for the netters sake and for the industry that there is another shoal coming through But that remains to be seen over the next day or so We will then get confirmation that that actually was a shoal of sardines coming through.

And there you are. So let’s hope for the best. Yeah, what I’m thinking is that the sardine run is basically over. That the sards have all moved out into deeper water. We’ll keep you updated if anything changes. And just keep watching Sardine News because we keep things relevant and we keep things current.

Anyway, that’s all I’ve got for now. Talk to you guys soon. Cheers.

Affiliated YouTube Channels

https://youtube.com/@Brucifire – highly entertaining surf reporting

https://youtube.com/@thesardinenews – neva miss a single sardine

https://youtube.com/@mydotackletalk – highly technical sport fishing

https://youtube.com/@surflaunchingsouthernafrica – getting out there safely

https://youtube.com/@waterwoes – complain here

Affiliated websites

https://umzimkulu.co.za – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
https://umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –  sardine run coming up
https://thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine
https://masterwatermen.co.za – news from deep down
https://brucifire.co.za – surf and conditions reporting
https://fishbazaruto.com – your dreams are out there
https://mydofishinglures.co.za – technical sport fishing

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9AM Saturday Sardine Summary 15 June 2024 by Kevin in Qora, Adam in Durban and The Bear on the Coast

Saturday Sardine Summary 15 June 2024 by Kevin 9 AM

9AM Saturday Sardine Summary 15 June 2024 by Kevin in Qora, Adam in Durban and The Bear on the Coast

9AM Saturday Sardine Summary 15 June 2024 by Kevin in Qora, Adam in Durban and The Bear on the Coast: The Sardine News Saturday Sardine Summary.

Morning, chaps. This is Kevin at Qora Mouth, just north of Mazepa Bay, in the southern Transkei Let’s cross over to Adam, on the Durban beach front for his early morning report.

All the fish and more. It’s Saturday morning on the Durban beach front. Gorgeous conditions. There’s a wave for the surfers who have patience.
Lots of boats on the water today. We’re expecting a southwesterly this afternoon. But at the moment, it’s pretty calm. Lovely settled conditions. Hope the guys get some good fish today.

Right. So thank you, Adam. Thanks for your input. Let’s also have a chat to The Bear, who’s also giving us a little early morning report on how things are going.

Okay, everybody have a good day. Y’all see looking ballistic, uh, from bluff down. Very flat. And it’s definitely bizarre. Sardines will be around. So go and get your game on, peeps. Have fun. As always, dive safe on the straight spears. All the fish and more fish and more fish and more fish cool.

Thanks guys. Thanks for your input always much appreciated Yeah, what we can say is that there are The crews the netting crews are down at Pennington right now. They’re all on the beach. Nobody’s launched things are kind of quiet for a second day in a row and let’s think positive here.

Let’s cross our fingers and hope that the sards haven’t moved out into deeper water yet. But that very well could have happened. You know, they’re reaching, as we said yesterday, very unfavorable conditions. They’re now in the KZN waters where they were following a cold plume up the coast, very nutrient rich water, and as they get towards where they’re at now, they start getting a little bit confused because it should be actually staying cold and it’s actually getting warm.

So at about now, these sards will all move out into the deep and Yeah, look for cold water. So let’s hope that hasn’t happened already. The netters are still positive because they’re on the beaches. So yeah let’s see what the day brings and we’ll get back to you as things change. Cheers.

Affiliated YouTube Channels

https://youtube.com/@Brucifire – highly entertaining surf reporting

https://youtube.com/@thesardinenews – neva miss a single sardine

https://youtube.com/@mydotackletalk – highly technical sport fishing

https://youtube.com/@surflaunchingsouthernafrica – getting out there safely

https://youtube.com/@waterwoes – complain here

Affiliated websites

https://umzimkulu.co.za – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
https://umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –  sardine run coming up
https://thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine
https://masterwatermen.co.za – news from deep down
https://brucifire.co.za – surf and conditions reporting
https://fishbazaruto.com – your dreams are out there
https://mydofishinglures.co.za – technical sport fishing

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SARDINES on the KZN South Coast

Sardines on the KZN South Coast 7 June 2024

SARDINES on the KZN South Coast

SARDINES on the KZN South Coast: these sardines have me on the edge of my seat!

Yesterday rumours were circulating already. And today many sporadic sightings have been reported. From lower KZN South Coast waters.

Advice is only to wait and see rather. Sardine Fever is mean stuff and you can easily find yourself chasing sardines from carpark to carpark in vain.

The sightings today have all been from far off. They actually could even be other baitfish like mackerel or red-eye sardines. So many guys out there are after clicks that you really need to question the validity of each post. However, with so many reported sightings on social, let’s just go with it!

First Shoal

These are then the sardines that Kevin in Qora spotted for us ten long days ago. It was a substantial shoal that was sighted. Big enough to get through the hordes of predators lying in ambush along the way. Who were already quite satiated with those early pilot shoals. That went through even before this first main shoal.

How far this first main shoal gets is gonna be interesting. But with the absolutely ideal water and weather conditions ahead of us, more big shoals are sure to follow along smartly.

The KZN South Coast would be the perfect place to be if you want to see sardines this year. The rivers have been swept clean by the recent floods induced by that foul cut-off low storm system recently. Good for something!

Hotspots

Sardines love Port Edward. And it is so easy. Beyond Port Edward the main road turns inland and the beaches are a long drive each time. Port Edward has grand-stand seats to the sardine run. With a well laid out promenade with ample parking and viewing sites. The sardines often beach at Port Edward. And most years this is where the first nets will be going in.

But that ain’t no guarantee! Sardines do make up their own minds and sometimes the first shoals will skip Port Edward and bounce over to beautiful Glenmore Beach. Trafalgar. All the way up to Margate, there are so many lush spots to gain a vantage from.

Margate has had it’s pipes cleaned a number of times lately and hopefully with this recent flush, the ANC or the MK or whoever, can do a proper job of the stormwater systems this time. Sardines do not like dirty water. But at the moment Margate is clean and it would be safe to visit there. For sardines, and for people.

Forecast

North of this Lower South Coast stretch is going to be a tough call. Perhaps a few of those early little pilot shoals survived out deep. And they might pop in to the coast and catch us all by surprise.

You can get a real feel of the sardine run and how it unfolds each year at the following links to the relevant Sardine Sightings Maps.

2024

2023

2022

Please consider heading on over to our YouTube Channel where we break The Sardine News first.

Sardines are Surfers

The hectic ocean swell from the southeast has backed right off. And looks to be turning to a south swell. And as we all know – Sardines are Surfers. And they will be capitalising on any pulse they can. Sardines on the KZN South Coast 7 June 2024.

Sardines are Surfers! By Kevin Tuohy

The Sardine News on YouTube.

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