Tag: sardine

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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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Sardine Run Update 13 June 2024 by Kevin in Qora

13 June 2024 Sardine News Update by Kevin Qora

Sardine Run Update 13 June 2024 by Kevin in Qora

Sardine Run Update 13 June 2024 by Kevin in Qora: Another fantastic sardine run 2024 day…let Kevin sum it up for us…

This is Kevin at Qora Mouth, just north of Mazepa Bay, in the Southern Transkei. The sardine run is truly underway. We’ve been very closely watching the movement of the sardines once they went through Port Edward and the netting started. Plenty nets coming out as this shoal just moves its way slowly north any day now.

It’s going to be reaching the Durban beachfront We’ve heard of big nets coming out this morning at um, kamas. A lot of people are asking is It’s very early in the season. They’re expecting another bunch of big shoals to come through. Let’s really discuss that and look to what we can expect to come through.

And to understand this, we have to go right back to the beginning of where this shoal actually started. And if you were watching our previous videos, these sardines come off the Agulhas Bank, which is off the southern tip of South Africa. And. They’re a migratory species. The biomass of those sardines moves up towards Angola and Namibia on the west coast.

That’s their migration. Every year, they come out of the Agulhas Bank and they move up the west coast of Africa, where they spawn and they breed. Next summer, they move back. They turn around and they move back to the Agulhas Bank. So they have a cycle that they complete. And a certain Percentage of that biomass when that migration happens, splinters off and because of a variety of factors, that little group moves up the East Coast by mistake.

This is only once a year that this whole biomass moves up. So the shoal that was sitting off the East Coast, deep in the Cape, normally gets held up a lot longer than it did this year. But due to very favorable conditions, big south swell, And that front that came through, moved them up the coast extremely fast.

And they came through about a month early. Chaps, this actually is the mother load. The sards that they’re netting in Durban. We shouldn’t expect another big shoal to come through because down south off the Cape, they only do this migration once. The big shoal that’s off Durban right now, this is the shoal of sardines that came splintered off from the main biomass that went up the West Coast.

A lot of people are saying, no, it’s still early and we’re going to get more big shoals coming through. Chaps, it’s not going to happen. There are still some splinter groups and some lagging. little shoals that are moving through the trans sky right now. They’re up past Ports St. John’s up towards Mdumbi and Ports St Johns.

Brazen Head’s got a couple shoals, but these are just minor little shoals, pretty much the same size as the pilot shoals that come before the major shoal. So enjoy it while you can. This is the 2024 shoal that’s now off Durban, just south of Durban, and this will probably be it for the year. And yes, about a month early, but you know, there is no timing.

It’s all based around the current conditions on the year that this happens, even though they’re very early this year. It seems like it’s a bumper crop and the guys are really capitalizing on it. Lots of netting going on. Enjoy it while you got it, but this is it. Let’s see how successful it is for the netters.

So far so good. It’s a wonderful sardine run again. We’ll be back next year for another one. We’ll keep you updated in the, the days to come of where the sods are just for those people that want to go and experience it and, and watch it once they get past Durban, this whole shoal starts reaching very, very warm water, which they can’t survive in.

And even though they might venture up the north coast just a little bit more, they generally will then start dissipating. And those that remain will head out into the deeper water off the shelf just to escape the warm water. They will go back to where the current is. They will dive much deeper, where the water is colder.

And those that remain We’ll probably head back to their Gullis Bank at some stage. That’s all I got for now, and keep it real. I’ll keep you updated if there’s any changes. 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 at Scottburgh and How They Got Here by Kevin in Qora

Sardines at Scottburgh and How They Got Here by Kevin in Qora

Sardines at Scottburgh and How They Got Here by Kevin in Qora

Sardines at Scottburgh and How They Got Here by Kevin in Qora: big thank you to Kevin for today’s early report. More to follow this afternoon.

Over to Kevin…

Morning everyone. This is Kevin at Qora Mouth, just north of Mazepa Bay in the southern Transkei. Well it’s morning here and I think, you know, with the amount of people that are chasing the sardines, obviously not the netters, the netters are right on point, they know exactly where they’re going to be based on the progress that they’re making up the coast.

But I think there’s a lot of the general public that would love to just Experience the sardine run and we’re getting a lot of requests asking where they’re going to be and how fast are they moving. So we’re just going to quickly do a quick little summary this morning just to show you guys the movement and we can from our schematic.

You can see that. Generally from the 7th of June the Sardines arrived in the, on the KZN coast and it’s now the 12th of June and we have confirmed a net is coming out at Scottborough today. So yeah, guys no need to drive around aimlessly and get very frustrated and disappointed. You can definitely head down towards the Scottborough area.

Even a little bit south of that, there’s still going to be lingering shoals down there. What happens on the south coast of KZN is that most of your predators are going to be sharks, and those sharks are having a feast. And what they do is the sharks come in from deeper water, and they start attacking the shoal from the seaside.

And so that drives that shoal closer and closer into the shore. So like when we had at Sezela. The sardines actually were right on the beach, right on the shore break. And that’s gonna happen now the whole way up through KZN, cause major predatory activity. So yeah guys go and, go and have a look. Go and see what’s going on.

But no need to drive around aimlessly. Follow our schematic daily and we’ll keep you up to date where they are. Have some fun, but like we’ve said before, please, please, please give the netters space to do what they’re doing. As we’ve seen with the tragic accident that happened this week, what they’re doing is not only vital for their own livelihood and for the fishing and, uh, food industry, which is where these sardines are absorbed into.

It’s also extremely dangerous what they’re doing. Even those nets on the beach, they contain sharks. The net itself is extremely dangerous because it’s still in the shore break and you don’t want to get your leg or part of you trapped by that net. So just stay away, observe from a distance and good luck.

Hope you guys find the sards and get to experience sardine fever. Okay, that’s all I got for now. We’ll chat later on today. Cheers chaps.

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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GANNETS! 2nd Sardine Report for 2024 from Kevin Qora

Gannets in 2024 Sardine Report Number Two

GANNETS! 2nd Sardine Report for 2024 from Kevin Qora

GANNETS! 2nd Sardine Report for 2024 from Kevin Qora: big thanks to Kevin in Qora for yet another report…

Kevin in Qora is keeping us on the edge of our seats as he scans the horizon north and south for signs of the incoming sardine migration. Kevin is perfectly situated in the deep south of the Transkei Wild Coast. In a beautiful place called Qora.

Kevin has splashed through many sardine runs throughout his illustrious fishing life. Along with Kevin, our network of sardine spies extends far and wide.

But we welcome any news of sightings, especially with video.

Please submit your videos or photos to umzimkulu@gmail.com and if you would like to credited, or get some exposure for your business, include a logo and a link and let’s see what we can do together.

The Sardine News Sightings Map for 2024 is being prepared at the moment and will launch within the next few days. On this map we log all verified and meaningful sightings as they occur. You can reliably use this map to plan your next sardine ambush or holiday destination.

Keep an eye out at the following hotspots for this time of the year…

Usually in these areas…

Mossel Bay

This is one of the sardine’s favourite first landing areas. Shoals can be seen way out to sea on flat, glassy days. Moving north slowly as they gather momentum and numbers.

Plettenberg Bay experiences similar action early on in the season.

Port Elizabeth

By the time they gather here, the congregation will have grown heaps. And so will the predator population that follows them. Diver operators get in on the action real early all this way down south.

More and more sardines will start to form huge shoals at this time of the run.

East London

Another favourite check-in to the sardine run for sardines. With even more predators gathering.

Port Alfred

Every year, consistently, Port Alfred receives a lot of sardine attention early.

Transkei

With Kevin in Qora reporting that gannets are already on the scene, feeding and rafting, we are pretty certain that some pilot shoals are sneaking through. These first sardines get absolutely obliterated and it just so much fun to watch.

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