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Sardines vs Tornados! 4 June 2024 Sardine Situation Update in Video

4 June 2024 Tornados and Sardines EXPLAINED

Sardines vs Tornados! 4 June 2024 Sardine Situation Update in Video

Sardines vs Tornados! 4 June 2024 Sardine Situation Update: Kevin in Qora weighs in our current sardine situation…

Good morning chaps, this is Kevin from Qora Mouth, just north of Mazepa Bay in the southern Transkei. Well, well, well, well, I see that our little cut-off low that gave us actually over 200 millimetres of rain over the last 72 hours moved north with much destruction. I’ve heard reports of tornadoes in Tongat and getting slammed.

Yeah, I think to understand what has happened here, we get these systems at least once or twice a year. And these cut-off lows develop south of South Africa. And it’s basically a cutoff, as the name suggests, from the predominant westerly movement of these storm fronts, where it kind of pinches itself off and then moves very erratically on its own and it’s very hard to predict what it’s going to do.

Generally, in South Africa, they sit over the ocean. So we’re these normal storm cells that come through in the wintertime. And let’s bear in mind that Cape Town gets winter rainfall and KZN gets summer rainfall. So these cutoff lows, being very erratic, they just work on their own. And what happens is that they track along the coast instead of going inland. So a storm cell like this, which would have stayed relatively deep inland and over South Africa, would have resulted in ice-cold temperatures over Gauteng, would have put snow on the Drakensberg, but would have had very little effect on the coastal region except for maybe a drop in temperature, actually had a huge effect because the storm tracked along the coast. And what happens is that with these very, very strong winds that are associated with it, they pick up a lot of moisture off of the ocean through evaporation with an 18 kilometer per second wind, lots of water is sucked up into these storm cells, and then it just gets released over the coastal regions, which is what we saw over the last couple of days. I think it’s generally passed now. It’s looking like fairly clear skies right now, some lingering clouds. So I don’t think the effect long term is going to have much effect on the sardine movement. It looks like most of the rainfall was very, very localized along the coast. So what I discussed in the previous report of larger rivers having to kind of filter their water through, I don’t think that’s going to have any marked effect on the sardines or the color of the water. I think this was very, very coastal. If we talk about the Tongat very, very coastal. If we talk about the Tongat tornado, I think that what happens with these cutoff lows is that they can sit over an area for days on end because they actually just stop moving and they just release all of their moisture.

And then they become stronger, stronger as well at the same time. They’re just backing up on themselves. More moisture is getting added to them, but they’re not moving. And so they become super storm cells. Which is what happened, which caused the tornadoes to touch down, which is just these storm cells are associated with very, very violent updrafts, definitely hail possible, and then a vortex can come out of the bottom, touches down and becomes a tornado. And this is just, you know, the evidence of how violent that these storms can become. Cut off low, not a pretty thing. It’s called the Weatherman’s Woe is another name that the weatherman give it, the Weatherman’s Woe, because very hard to predict, very hard to track, very hard to know what it’s going to be doing. But anyway, I think the worst is over, chaps. And now we can just look forward to this movement of sods again.

I’m looking out deep right now and I’d say I’ve got a bit of discoloration in the water that goes out about two kilometers out. But looking at the foam on the waves nothing too hectic. breaking, No major debris in the water. A little bit of foam on the rocks, but nothing too hectic. So, I yeah, stand by what I said. Within the next 48 to 72 hours, I think we’re going to see the sods start moving again, en masse. So, yeah, let’s hope. Let’s hope. Let’s get those sods to case it in. Let’s get the netters netting. The shad are obviously following them with a garrick right behind. So yeah, good season ahead, chaps. Good season ahead. Let’s hope all bodes well. Well, that’s all I got for now. And we’ll chat as soon as things change. Cheers.

By Kevin in Qora

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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Kevin in Qora Flabbergasted by HUGE Shoal of Sardines TODAY 30 May 2024

Kevin in Qora Flabbergasted by huge shoals of sardines today 30 May 2024

Kevin in Qora Flabbergasted by HUGE Shoal of Sardines TODAY 30 May 2024

Kevin in Qora Flabbergasted by HUGE Shoal of Sardines TODAY 30 May 2024: listen to this very exciting voice note from Kevin in Qora as he reports being flabbergasted by the size of the shoal of sardines out front of his cottage in Qora today.

Words like motherload and early season show the severity of Kevin’s sardine fever-laden report. Makes me want to jump in a vehicle and head south right now!

? “Morning, everyone. This is Kevin from Qora Mouth. Just north of Mazepa Bay in the southern Transkei. Well, we’ve had those pilot shoals that came through over the last couple weeks. Which was a very good indicator that we’re going to have a wonderful sardine run again then we had a bit of a hold-up where sardines washed up in Haga Haga and we heard of a bigger shoal that was off of Sinsa And the water had warmed up a bit.

So that’s why I think that that shoal got held up and Now, today, there are literally thousands of birds out in front of me. I’m also seeing lots of predator activity whales breaching and I wouldn’t say it’s a super pod of dolphins, but plenty, plenty dolphin activity. But I’m talking thousands of birds stretched over probably a two-kilometer stretch lots of separate diving action So, what I’m going to say now is that this is a much larger shoal.

This just isn’t a little pilot shoal fractured off. This is something big. And being end of May, this is extremely unusual, but This is Big Chaps coming through here now, unfortunately my iPhone camera doesn’t do much justice to action that’s a couple kilometers out same as taking a full moon photo and all you see is a little yellow dot in the sky, but The evidence is here right in front of me.

It’s a very, very big shawl movement. I mean, this is on par with like the mother load that comes once a year and it’s way too early for the mother load unless it is the mother load. I don’t know. But Yeah, all I can say is I’m actually sitting here flabbergasted by the amount of activity and feeding going on.

I mean, I can’t even reiterate it more. Thousands and thousands of gannets big rafts everywhere where they’ve gorged themselves full and just others taking to the wing and diving. It’s just, you know, 20, 30 peeling off at a time, boiling the water. So yeah, this is good. This is good. Let’s see how fast they move.

This is the kind of shoal that definitely will reach KZN. So, yeah, keep your fingers crossed. Port St. John’s is the next port of call. There’s not much between here and there. There is Navaja where there’s some cottages. But it’s generally a quiet area, so the next major sighting and confirmation of this shoal is going to be Port St.

John’s Coffee Bay area, and that depending on how fast they move, let’s say we give them five to six days to get to Port St. John’s. But this is a big one. Cool buzz. Over and out. I’ll keep you updated. Cheers.”

Port St Johns

Is the next major port-of-call is gonna be Port St Johns. However, our sardine spies in Mdumbi might be up for some excitement this afternoon and in the morning.

The fishing has been rocking in Port St Johns the last few days.

Shoal sized kob on paddletail near Port St Johns
Shoal sized kob on paddletail near Port St Johns

KZN

Fishing in KZN water and other nearby spots however has been dismal. When the sardines shoal northwards from the deep south like this, it causes chaos with the local fish populations. They also follow the food around the place.

Even the shad have been really slow up in KZN.

The exception being the couta up on the north coast at the moment. They are also here for the sardines but don’t dig the cold water down south at all. Port Edward is roughly their southern limit. And at the limits of the couta’s range here like this, these are the big fish. Only the really big couta make it this far south.

All if these fish were caught down that way, over the years…during the sardine season.

Affiliated YouTube Channels

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

https://youtube.com/@thesardinenews – neva miss out

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

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Sardine News 26 May: yacht aground at Mdumbi, warm water, beached sardines at Haga Haga

The Sardine News 26 May 2024

Sardine News 26 May: yacht run aground at Mdumbi, warm water, beached sardines at Haga Haga

Sardine News 26 May: yacht aground at Mdumbi, warm water, sardines beaching at Haga Haga: yesterdays sardine news todayt! We were meant to upload this report yesterday, but today will have to do. Luckily in this report we have Kevin and our other secret sardine spies on hand to explain what is going on this year, with the sards.

This sardine run 2024 has been off to an early start with a good bunch of sardines finding a chute of very cold water to catch up north. Then that cold water ran out. The ocean warmed by 5 degrees. And bang! We have sardines beaching themselves. Kevin explains this very nicely in the video for us.

Mdumbi

Mdumbi area as reported by Robbie. Yacht Tipsy ran aground 2 am in the morning. The NSRI got the crew of four off safely. The boat is a wreck, unfortunately. More at https://thesardine.co.za.

There have been sardines at Mdumbi. Sardines love the place, along with Coffee Bay, a few clicks to the south. The sards bring the shad. ANd the shad are going mad. Blue shad is the buzz word being bandied about by all and sundry at the moment.

Port St Johns

We get quite a comprehensive report from the Vegan Fishing YouTube Channel. It’s become a complicated place to be fishing. The sand is still going the wrong way in the bay. Rendering many of the best spots completely unfishable.

Luckily there is a garrick or two, on bucktail, in this segment. If you want to be right on the edge of uy7our chair when you watch YouTube fishing videos, check out this Vegan Fishing Channel and hold on tight. Like and Subscribe to neva miss a single garrick!

Kevin in Qora

Backs us up with a detailed and technical analysis of what has happened to those first pilot shoals of sardines. With some cool animations, to really explain the point.

At Haga Haga and its surrounds, sardines were washing up everywhere. All the beaches were flooded with patches of beached sardines.

Why?

Well, let Kevin explain in the video…right here

Thank you to everybody who contributed to this Sardine News 26 May edition.

Affiliated YouTube Channels

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

https://youtube.com/@thesardinenews – neva miss out

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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Shoal of Sardines off Mazeppa

Which Way to Mazeppa Bay

Shoal of Sardines off Mazeppa

3km Shoal of Sardines off Mazeppa: Kevin in Qora Mouth, deep south Transkei, Wild Coast, is perfectly situated to give us the heads up we need this 2024 Sardine Run.

In this video, Kevin explains the interactions that go on between whales and sardines each year.

And then we get to chat about all the different whales we will be seeing at the Greatest Show on Earth this year and every year into the future.

Enjoy the report from just north of Mazeppa Bay, way down in the Transkei

Humpbacks

Contradictory to common belief, these guys eat a lot of sardines. They team up, surround the shoals, and force them together. Then take turns in taking mouthfuls, gorging themselves.

There are three distinct populations. B2 Humpback Whales: Dr. Oz Goffman (Head dolphin project of Haifa University -IMMRAC – The Recanati Institute for Maritime Studies/School of Marine Sciences) spends his life stalking and saving cetaceans of all kinds and in all places. But specifically these guys. The B2 population. And the C1 guys. These are the ever-entertaining humpback whale communities that visit us, and Mozambique, this time each year. (see graphic by Dr. Oz and colleagues below).

These guys even know the whales by name…

Brydes Whale

And be careful of these sardine gluttons. They have been known to take the odd diver by mistake. Luckily neoprene seems to turn them off and they regurgitate the snorkelers each time.

I am pretty sure that this is the guy that got Jonah.

Southern Right

These guys are also stated to be zoo-plankton feeders almost exclusively. But they love the sardine run too! Not nearly as common as the Humpback populations.

Minke

These little guys only get about 10m long or so. But they also love sardines! You’d be lucky to spot one or two of these rare cetaceans in amongst the more common Humpbacks.

Affiliated YouTube Channels

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

https://youtube.com/@thesardinenews – neva miss out

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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1000s of Cape Gannets dive-bombing in Qora, Deep Transkei

15 May 2024 Sardine Report 1000s of Cape Gannets in Qora

1000s of Cape Gannets dive-bombing in Qora, Deep Transkei

1000s of Cape Gannets dive-bombing in Qora, Deep Transkei: the iconic and beautifully choreographed gannet population descends on the sardine run first. Every time. These are our main indicators. That along with the cetaceans, sharks, fish and other marine mega-fauna, make up all the predators that are chasing after the sardines each year.

When all these guys come together, you are guaranteed a front-row seat at The Greatest Shoal on Earth.

CLICK HERE for the Sardine Run 2024 Sightings Map Page.

Enjoy the report and thank you Kevin in Qora, deep Transkei…

More about Gannets

Cape gannets (Morus capensis) possess several remarkable features that set them apart:

  1. Colonial Nesting: These seabirds breed in large colonies, often on remote islands or rocky cliffs. Their communal nesting behaviour is a spectacle to behold.
  2. Distinct Appearance: Cape gannets have striking plumage, with snowy white bodies, black wingtips, and a golden-yellow crown. Their eyes are surrounded by a distinctive blue ring.
  3. Precise Diving Skills: When hunting for sardines, they perform spectacular plunges from great heights, folding their wings and torpedoing into the water. Their streamlined bodies and keen eyesight aid in precise targeting.
  4. Monogamous Pairs: Cape gannets form monogamous pairs during the breeding season. They engage in elaborate courtship displays, reinforcing their bond through synchronized head movements and calls.
  5. Diet: Their diet consists of small fish, especially sardines and anchovies. They rely on the annual sardine run off the South African coast for abundant food.
  6. Conservation Concerns: Unfortunately, Cape gannets face threats such as overfishing, pollution, and habitat disturbance. Conservation efforts are crucial to protect these magnificent birds.

In summary, Cape gannets combine elegance, precision, and ecological significance, making them a celebrated and vital part of South Africa’s marine ecosystem.

Cape gannets are attentive parents, and their chick-rearing process involves several key steps:

  1. Nesting Sites: Cape gannets breed in large colonies on rocky cliffs or remote islands. They choose nesting sites carefully to avoid predators and ensure proximity to food-rich waters.
  2. Courtship and Pair Bonding: During the breeding season, male and female gannets engage in courtship displays. They perform synchronized head movements and calls to strengthen their pair bond.
  3. Egg Laying: After courtship, the female lays a single egg. Both parents take turns incubating the egg, which typically lasts around 44 days.
  4. Incubation Shifts: The parents alternate incubation duties. While one incubates, the other forages for food. Their precise shifts ensure constant warmth for the developing chick.
  5. Hatching and Chick Care: Once the egg hatches, the chick emerges. It is initially covered in soft down feathers. The parents feed the chick regurgitated fish, providing essential nutrients.
  6. Growth and Development: Over the next few weeks, the chick grows rapidly. It develops waterproof feathers and gains strength. The parents continue to feed it until it becomes independent.
  7. Fledging: Around 90 days after hatching, the chick is ready to fledge. It takes its first flight, leaving the nest. The parents continue to provide food during this transition.
  8. Post-Fledging Period: After fledging, young gannets spend several years at sea, honing their fishing skills. Eventually, they return to the colony to breed, continuing the cycle.

In summary, Cape gannets exhibit dedicated parenting, ensuring the survival and success of their chicks in the challenging marine environment. ?? : https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/c/cape-gannet/ https://www.sardinerunpe.co.za/

Affiliated YouTube Channels

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

https://youtube.com/@thesardinenews – neva miss out

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

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

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

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

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