Tag: sardine run

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Trawler Watch 2017 reporting procedure

Trawler Watch 2017: Fishing Trawler spotted trawling at Mdumbi!

Trawler Watch 2017 reporting procedure

We are now in touch with the right people – Senior Marine Conservation Inspectors with DAFF, to whom any sightings of suspected trawlers, can be reported.

But there is some procedure to follow, that filters out any legitimate vessels.

SO, when you see a suspected trawler…

  1. Log onto http://marinetraffic.com on the internet, or onto your AIS cellphone App. Click here to choose one if you need one still.
  2. Locate the area where your suspect ship is, and see if there a corresponding ship icon, for your suspect
  3. If there is no AIS icon visible, please report to…
  •  The DAFF vessel operating in that area – The Ruth First, is in the area off the Transkei, where most of the suspect activity has been noted lately. Their number is 079 773 6514 and Inspector Teyise is on board right now.
  • Our contacts, Senior Marine Conservation Inspector Mr. Bongani Pitoyi is on 071 765 2533, and is extremely helpful.
  • Another number you can call is deputy director Mr Moshani on 076 780 5049.

SO, please keep your eyes on your horizon, and help us iron out what is actually going on out there.

On Trawler Watch 2017!

EXTRA: Check the following video documentary, to see how much mechanisation is used by commercial fishing trawlers…slow and shaky, but you get the picture fair enough. And it is in Iceland. But the same technology can be deployed against fish anywhere in the world. Including our waters. And why we need to be on the lookout. Next thing we buying our own mackerel and sardines in tins marked Made in China!

Latest sardine report has recently been published here…http://thesardine.co.za

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Book your sardines now!

Book your sardines now!

Sardines! Coming fast!

Offshore Africa, The Sardine specialists down in The Transkei, have already started taking bookings, for their Sardine Run experience.

Which is…jump right in with them, sharks and all!

Make no mistake, it’s a military type operation, and Rob Nettleton and Debbie Smith, partners in the show, take it very seriously. Their combined experience adds up to decades on, and under the ocean. Heaps of this time surrounded by dangerous marine animals. It is this experience that allows the totally mind-blowing trips out to sea off Port St. Johns to happen. Coupled with reliable, fast boats, and well-trained skippers…the exhilarating ride out through the surf and up and down the awe inspiring Wild Coast, will never be forgotten.

Right from the word go, the adrenalin starts pumping. Loading up, and prepping the powerful RIBs growl into life, as the winter induced offshore wind pumps down the stupendously beautiful Umzimvubu Valley. The next thing your heart is in your mouth, as you face the most hardcore ride of your life – through the surf at the Port St. Johns river mouth! And out to sea!

Flying with Offshore
Flying with Offshore – Rob Nettleton at the helm

The sardines are easily spotted by the birds they attract. Seagulls, Gannets, Albatross, Skuas, Terns…they are all highly aware of the bounty at large. And where the sardines are, that’s where the dolphins, whales, sharks, fish…are.

Jump right in!

Yip! The next thing you are surrounded my marine wildlife. The clear blue waters reveal all. The entire food chain! Staying out of the food chain is not that difficult really, sticking together provides the single biggest advantage – confidence. Just float there calmly and observe the carefully controlled mayhem, as predators who normally are averse to each other, start to work as a Springbok team. Those poor sardines!

Enjoy this gallery from the 2015 Sardine Run…

The sardines take a hammering from all kinds of marine wild life

There is more amazing imagery and video at this link…

http://offshoreportstjohns.com/?product=the-sardine-run-6-nights-5-days

 

Enjoy this cool video montage assembled from some of Rob and Debbies best footage, shot in and around Port St. Johns.

To get in touch with Offshore Africa…

http://offshoreportstjohns.com

https://web.facebook.com/offshoreafricaportstjohns/

 

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The Sardine Coast photographic roundup

The Sardine Coast photographic roundup

The Sardine Coast photographic roundup is a spread of shots from up and down the south coast – well, the south coast of KZN Natal, South Africa. These pics were taken over the past weekend and reveal exactly the paradise of the area. From the southern Cape, through the Transkei and Natal, the coast is buzzing with waves, fish, sardines, whales, dolphins…and people, chasing all of them shore to horizon.

Although lots of sardine baitball and predator activity is being experienced down in the Transkei, the shoals have yet to make an appearance in Natal waters.

Jeffreys Bay, South Africa (c) KCThe Sardine Coast

Thanks to Robbie van Wijk, Jay Steenkamp and guest photographer KC Coetzer!

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Another No Sardine Report 30 June 2016

Another No Sardine Report 30 June 2016

Jay Steenkamp, NSB dude and undercover Sardine agent, was at sea off Margate on the KZN lower south coast this very morning.

And ,,submitted the following report:

“Margate has reverse current with good viz and sea temp is 22.5 no sardine action. Lots of dolphins around on the backline and lots of whales in the deep moving north.”

Many thanks Jay…we are hanging on every sardine sounding word!

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Where are the sardines 2015?

Where are the sardines 2015?

The word in the carpark, up and down the KZN coastlines is that we should not give up hope, for a second coming, of sardines this year.

Where are the sardines 2015?
Where are the sardines 2015? Jay Steenkamp took this shot of the first few nets being thrown successfully, in the beginning of the season.

In fact, today brought with it an entirely new ocean, with lovely polished swells coming out of the south, a stiff offshore breeze, and most excitingly, birds. Gannets and terns were buzzing the bay off Port Shepstone, some deep diving going on. It was too difficult to see what exactly had the birds so piqued, but they in turn, attracted no less than 7 boats, from the Shelley Beach ski-boat competition, being run out of there, this week. Looking for a big ‘couta, or live bait, to start with…it’s been many a moon since we saw so many boats on the backline. Looked like the couta seasons back when there still were some couta left around here (they have been spotted, in numbers, in the Meditaranean, in case you were getting worried).

Environmentally we have all the right conditions forecast, to bring the sea temperature down (howling easterlies predicted for this week), and then to come through with big seas, from the south – this is the front that brings us our strongest chance of netting a few more sards.

So, later in July and early August, and sometimes they even only come through in September!?

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