Ok, time for the Friday Sardine Report 24 June 2016.
From Debbie Smith at Offshore Africa Port St. Johns – “Nothing.”
From Robbie van Wijk in Mdumbi – “Lots of shad”
From The NSB aeroplane – “Some sardines at Waterfall Bluff”
And that’s it for the sardines on this beautiful KZN South Coast sunny winters day. Rumours of a few nets being taken at Ramsgate and Ifafa have made the rounds. I know one net grabbed here was full of redeyes which had to be released immediately – permit issues.
So if anyone hears anything remotely sardine-like, please pop into one of my inboxes – umzimkulu@gmail.com being the easiest for me.
Many thanks!
Perfect sardine conditions, but no sardines – Sardine Report 24 June 2016 (pic by Debbie Smith)
Sardine run 2016 preparations with Offshore Africa
Sardine run 2016 preparations with Offshore Africa have begun already as everybody looks forward to that bumper sardine run we all deserve.
Offshore Africa in Port St. Johns take divers right into the sardine bait ball action where every kind of marine perdator can be seen hard at work. Gorging the shoals of hapless sardines, they compete and work together – their common goal – the obliteration of bait balls, one by one.
Rob Nettleton and Debbie Smith, who for a decade now have operated boats and dive expeditions in The Transkei, arrange accommodation and meals for punters, and then take them to sea on one of their custom designed and rigged inflatables. The surf launch through the Umzimvubu River mouth warms the adrenalin valve up nice, and by the time you reach the action, you will be well into a state of flow. And that is the way you will stay as you get to jump in with sharks and whales and fish and dolphins and gannets…sensory overload is part of the menu.
Port St. Johns is far enough south and Offshore are normally the first to encounter the huge shoals. Other attractions include great fishing in the river and off the shore, incredible hikes through forests and over mountains – some that drop straight into the ocean, wide open beaches, a quaint settlers town to explore…the list is long.
At this time of the year, bookings with Offshore Africa for the 2016 sardine run, start to fill up fast. But, because of last years fantastic run, Rob and Debbie have extended their Sardine Run 2016 experience availability, adding a week or two on either side of their last years schedule.
Click on over to Offshore Africa Port St. Johns for more information and to make a booking.
Offshore Africa have slots available for the 2016 Sardine Run in Port St Johns.
Enjoy this 15 second clip to get the vibe and see what its all about…
Book your Sardine Run in Port St Johns with Offshore Africa…
Rob Nettleton and Debbie Smith are gearing up for another action packed sardine run, as the season for the migration nears.
Sardines can often be seen as early as April or May, but it is in June that things really hot up. The huge shoals of the little fish stick around until late July and even August.
Offshore Africa are rigged and ready to make sure you are right in the middle of the action, as and when it happens.
Their packages are flexible with a list of options for accommodation and meals.
The lower south coast was reported in quiet for tsontwsanes(Pondo word for sardines) this morning. But Jay Steenkamp reports plenty humpback whale activity. The migration is in full swing.
But the big news was dialled in by Robbie van Wijk who reports masses of sardines with wild activity, off Mapuzi right close to Coffee Bay!
Up and down the coast preparations are being made and bookings filling up as the eternal flame of hope for a good sardine run burns bright in the souls of the millions of die-hard sardine freaks. The Sardine Run 2015 is almost upon us!
This imagery by Rob Nettleton reminds us exactly of why we yearn and yearn, year after year, beer after beer…for the sardines. The chaos of it all. The sharks. The dolphins. The birds. The whales. The fish. The action!
A common dolphin parading through the battle ground full of raw sardine energy. Please share!
