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27 July Sardine Report: Sardines are still moving north

27 July Sardine Report from Ifafa Beach on the KZN Lower South Coast

27 July Sardine Report: Sardines are still moving north

Spending some time on the beat between Scottburgh and Sheppy was an eye opener. Although we never encountered any solid shoals of sardines, we did encounter plenty action and tell-tale signs.

Off Ifafa, the gamefish were boiling on the backline. And whilst we were checking it all out, a brace of huge couta left the water one after the other, in gigantic parabolas. An amazing spectacle to anyone who has seen them breach like this. The story goes that when they can be seen so high in the air – 20 metres sometimes – the are hugging the bottom and hunting up into the light, which silhouettes prey perfectly against the surface. When they spot their target, they accelerate upwards off the bottom to huge speeds – slicing their hapless victims into pieces as their super sharp teeth do the work. And flying clear up towards space at blistering speed. Somehow the couta always get the parabola perfect and level their bodies out at the top of their inverted dive through the sky. And then disappear back into the blue with barely a splash.

Then it was the whales’ turn to perform. It’s odd to note that at this time of the year, many whales are just sitting tight, and not moving north or south. And this is what we did see. Whales swimming in circles, and staying in the same place for ages.

Then the birds turned on their act. Gannets and Terns wheeling and diving. Coming up every time with a wriggling sardine. The sardines were there, visible, but scattered all over the place – as if the predators were wreaking havoc with them and sending them into disarray.

And then unbelievably, we came across a DAFF vehicle, with two inspectors. Who duly requested our fishing licenses. We had a nice chat, and pledged our co-operation and assistance in the new job they have taken from the highly effective Ezimvelo. They are admittedly out of their depths, and have made some of the most basic mistakes and errors already – making it even more difficult to build beach credibility. We reassured them we would be there to help.

And so we headed south again, only to come across a fully fledged freshly poached seafood market – right on the highway. Drive-by shad and crayfish by the dozen! The Hibberdene interchange must have had 30 individuals on the hussle for ignorants to buy their illegal wares. And so we have sent DAFF a photo as evidence, and now to see how they handle this situation.

High speed drive by photograph taken just shy of the Hibberdene offramp coming from Durban,
High speed drive by photograph taken just shy of the Hibberdene off ramp coming from Durban – shad and crayfish for sale all over the area.

Remember to please report any suspicious activity to the newly ordained DAFF people.

Numbers:

  •  079 773 6514 for Inspector Teyise who is at sea most times, on trawler patrol
  • Senior Marine Conservation Inspector Mr. Bongani Pitoyi is on 071 765 2533, and is extremely helpful.
  • Deputy Director Mr Moshani on 076 780 5049

Read about trawler watch here.

The 2017 Sardine Report was brought to you by Pelagic Fishing Gear distributed online and in Pretoria by http://fishingsfinest.co.za

 

Sardine and Shad Report 2017 sponsored by Pelagic available at fishingsfinest.co.za
Sardine and Shad Report 2017 sponsored by Pelagic available at fishingsfinest.co.za
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Pumula Local. Surf and shad check.

Pumula Local. Surf and shad check.

An Instagram feed journal of the activities of The Sardine News activities…

The KZN South Coast is brimming with character and characters – like this evergreen shad killer checking things out down at Pumula this week.

Pumula Local. Surf and shad check. Super stylin'. More at the sardine.co.za #thesardine - Instagram Journal

The shad have been jumping out if you find yourself at the right spot on the right tide, up and down the KZN South Coast lately.

Try the new MYDO SS Lanispoons out, available in the MYDO Online Factory Shop. Click here for more. The shad love them!

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Good fishing at Hibberdene continues…

Good fishing at Hibberdene continues…

Shad and garrick created all the buzz on Hibberdene Beach this weekend…many fish came out. With the season fast coming to a close (1st October), the shad, were coming out by the hundreds…and the large crowds of fishermen making it difficult for the Ezemvelo guys to keep up. Many anglers could be seen flaunting the law. Which is: 4 fish per person. With a license!

The law is there to protect the marine resource that we all take so much out of…don’t be part of the problem, be part of the solution. Obey the restrictions!

Below is taken from KZN Wildlife…penned up by JayWay…you could also go to their website and check it all out more comprehensively.

“Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife would like to advise all recreational anglers that the long awaited changes to the recreational fishing regulations have now been promulgated in terms of Government Gazette No 27453.

These new regulations apply to recreational shore based and ski boat fisherman and affect the bag and size limits of certain fish species that may be caught.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife will be producing and distributing awareness pamphlets highlighting these changes, in an effort to assist anglers with understanding and interpreting these new regulations.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife staff will be enforcing these new regulations with immediate effect and appeals to all anglers to familiarize themselves with these new regulations. While every effort will be given by staff to assist anglers, the onus will be on the individuals to ensure that they abide by these new laws.

The promulgation of these regulations were deemed necessary by the then Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism , Mr Valli Moosa, who declared an emergency in the linefish sector. This was done in accordance with section 16 of the Marine Living Resources Act, which allows the Minister to invoke emergency measures to rebuild fish stocks.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife welcomes these new regulations, as they are designed to afford protection to our dwindling marine resources while ensuring equal and long term usage by all.”

New Recreational Line Fish Regulations / Gov Gazette No 27453 6th April 2005
Quick Reference

Changes

Categories Changed – There are only two species categories that apply to the recreational line fisherman. These are:

  1. Prohibited Category – May not fish for, be in possession of, or sell the following:
    • Basking shark (new inclusion)
    • Brindle bass
    • Coelacanth (new inclusion)
    • Great white shark
    • Natal wrasse
    • Pipe fish & Seahorses (new inclusion)
    • Potato bass
    • Sawfishes
    • Seventy four
    • Whale shark (new inclusion)
  2. Permitted Category Annexure 7 ( Recreational Fishing) – May fish for and be in possession of subject to bag limits, size limits and closed seasons. MAY NOT SELL CATCH
  • See species category Annexure 7 (Government Gazette No 27453 6th April 2005)

Daily Bag Limits Changed:

  • 10 species per person per day irrespective of species caught. (applies to Shore & Boat anglers)
  • Annexure 7 Species that are not listed fall under the 10 bag limit.
  • Listed Species that have a bag limit of over 10 do not apply to this daily bag limit. (Mullet x50)

Bag limits – Following species have had their bag limits changed:

Important: Kob caught from a boat at sea in KZN – 5 per person per day of which 4 or all 5 can be between 40 – 110 cm’s & 1 only may be over 110cm’s

Kob caught from the shore & estuaries East of Cape Agulas ( applies to KZN) – 1 per person per day. 60cm’s

Shad – 4 per person per day in open season (1st December – 30th September)

  • Rays, Sharks & Skates (Carteligenouse fish) – 1 specimen per species per person per day.
  • Yellowbelly rockcod – 1 per person per day.
  • Kob caught from boat in KZN – 5 per person per day of which 4 or all 5 can be between 40 – 110 cm’s & 1 may be over 110cm’s
  • Kob caught from estuaries and shore – East Cape Agulhas (applies to KZN) 1 per person per day 60cm’s
  • Soldier (santer) – 5 per person per day.
  • Galjoen – 2 per person per day.
  • Bronze bream – 2 per person per day.
  • Garrick – 2 per person per day.
  • Shad – 4 per person per day.
  • West coast steenbras – 1 per person per day.
  • Carpenter (silver fish) – 4 per person per day.
  • Geelbek – 2 per person per day.
  • Poenskop – 1 per person per day.
  • Red steenbras – 1 per person per day.
  • Dageraad – 1 per person per day.
  • Englishmen – 1 per person per day.
  • Red stumpnose – 1 per person per day.
  • Roman – 2 per person per day.
  • Scotsman – 1 per person per day.
  • White mussel cracker – 2 per person per day.
  • White steenbras – 2 per person per day.

Bag Limits Introduced – The following species are no longer unlimited. Have now had bag limits imposed:

  • Mullet – 50 per person per day.
  • Pinky – 10 per person per day.
  • Karanteen – 10 per person per day.
  • Steentjie – 10 per person per day.
  • Fransmadam – 10 per person per day.

Size Limits

Important:

Kob caught from a boat in KZN – you may only be in possession of 4 between 40cm’s – 110cms & 1 of over 110cm’s / Total bag limit 5 or you may have all 5 between 40cm’s – 110cm’s .

Kob caught from the shore or estuary East Cape Agulas (applies to KZN) – you may only be in possession of 1 of 60cm’s or over

Size Limits Increased – The following species size limits have increased:

  • Red steenbras – 60 cm’s
  • Dageraad – 40cm’s
  • Scotsman – 40cm’s
  • West coast steenbras – 60cm’s
  • Carpenter (silver fish) – 35cm’s
  • Yellowbelly rock cod – 60cm’s
  • Catface (Spotted rock cod) – 50cm’s
  • Kob caught from shore & estuaries East of Cape Agulas (applies to KZN) – 60cm’s x 1 per person per day

Size Limits Introduced – Following species now have size limits imposed:

  • Englishmen – 40cm’s

Closed Seasons Changed– Following species have had there closed seasons changed:

  • Shad – Reduced by 1 month (1st October – 30th November)

Species Not Listed On Permitted Species List Annexure 7

  • Rock cods not listed on the permitted species list have a bag limit of 5 per species per day.(Can not be over and above total daily bag limit of 10 species)
  • All other species not listed have no size limit, but form part of the daily bag limit of 10
    Basking Shark
    Brindle Bass
    Coelacanth
    Great White Shark
    Natal Wrasse
    Pipefish and Sea Horses
    Potato Bass
    Sawfishes
    Seventy Four
    Whale Shark

     

    AnchoviesNoneNone
    Baardman(tasslefish, bellman)40cm5
    Banded GaljoenNone5
    Bill Fish(marlin, sailfish)None5
    Blacktail20cm5
    Blue HottentotNone5
    Bronze Bream30cm2
    Cape knifejawNone5
    Cape Stumpnose20cm5
    Carpenter(silverfish)35cm4
    catfish Rockcod50cm5
    Chub MackerelNoneNone
    Cutlassfish(walla walla)NoneNone
    Dageraad40cm1
    DaneNone5
    Englishman40cm1
    FransmadamNone10
    Galjoen35cm2/closed season
    15 October-end February
    GarfishesNoneNone
    Garrick(leerfis)70cm2
    Geelbek(cape salmon60cm2
    GlassiesNoneNone
    HakeNone5
    HalfbeaksNoneNone
    Horse Mackerel(maasbanker)NoneNone
    Hottentot22cm10
    John BrownNone5
    KingfishesNone5
    kingklipNone1
    King MackerelNone10
    Kob caught from a boat
    at sea(Cape Agulhas to Umtamvuna)
    50cm5 but may only be in possession of one
    Kob greater than 110cm per day
    Kob caught from a boat
    at sea(KwaZulu-Natal)
    40cm5 but may only be in possession of one
    Kob greater than 110cm per day
    Kob caught in estuaries and and
    from the shore(east of Cape Agulhas)
    60cm1
    Kob caught in estuaries and
    from shore(west of Cape Agulhas)
    50cm5
    Karanteen15cm10
    large Spot Pompano(wave garrick)None)5
    Leopard Cat SharkNone1
    MulletsNone50
    Natal Knifejaw(cuckoo bass)None5
    Natal Stumpnose(yellow bream)25cm5
    Pinky7.5cm10
    Poenskop(black mussel cracker)50cm1
    Queen MackerelNone10
    Ragged Tooth SharkNone1
    Red steenbras(copper steenbras)60cm1 closed season 1 October-30 November
    Red Stumpnose(miss lucy)30cm1
    River bream(perch)25cm5
    River Snapper(rock salmon)40cm5
    Roman30cm2
    Soldier(santer)30cm5
    Shad(elf)30cm4 closed season1 October-30 November
    Sardines(pilchards and Red Eye)NoneNone
    SauriesNoneNone
    ScadsNoneNone
    Scotsman40cm1
    Slinger25cm5
    Snoek(Cape snoek)60cm10
    Southern Pompanonone5
    Spotted Grunter40cm5
    Spotted Gully SharkNone1
    SpringerNone5
    SteenjieNone10
    StonebreamNone5
    Striped Cat SharkNone1
    Swordfish(broadbill)25kg5
    Squid(chokka)None20
    Tunas(tunnyNone10
    Albacore(longfin tuna)none10
    Bigeye tuna3.2kg10
    Bluefin Tuna6.4kg10
    Yellowfin Tuna3.2kg10
    West Coast Steenbras60cm1
    White edge Rockcod(captain fine)40cm5
    White musselcracker(brusher, cracker)60cm2
    White Steenbras(pignose grunter)60cm1
    White Stumpnose25cm10
    WolfherringNoneNone
    Yellowbelly Rockcod60cm1
    YellowtailNone10
    Zebra30cm5

MARINE RECREATIONAL FISHING GENERAL REGULATIONS

  1. No person shall, except on authority of a recreational permit obtainable from the South African Postal Services, engage in recreational fishing.
  2. No person shall sell, barter or trade any fish caught through recreational fishing.
  3. No recreational fishing permit is transferable from one person to another.
  4. A persona of a recreational permit shall not use any artificial breathing apparatus, other that a snorkel.
  5. No person shall, engage in fishing, collect or disturb any fish by means of a gaff, club, flail, stick, stone or similar implement.
  6. No person shall engage in fishing, except for octopus, cuttlefish or squid, by the jerking of a hook or jig in the sea jigging), with the intention of impaling the fish thereon.
  7. No person shall engage in the fishing, collection or disturbing of any fish with a speargun in a tidal river or tidal lagoon.
  8. No person shall use any cast net for fishing from sunset to sunrise.
  9. No person shall disturb, catch, kill or be in possession of any dolphin or any part or product derived thereof.
  10. No person shall, except with the authority of a permit, disturb, catch or kill any whales at any time, or approach closer than 300 m to a whale.
  11. No person shall, except with the authority of a permit, attract by using bait or any other means, any great white shark, or catch, attempt to catch, kill or attempt to kill any great white shark, or purchase, sell or offer for sale any part or product derived thereof.
  12. No person shall, except with the authority of a permit, damage, uproot, collect or land or attempt to damage, uproot, collect or land any live or dead coral.
  13. No person shall, except with the authority of a permit, engage in fishing, collecting or disturbing any live or empty pansy shell.
  14. No person shall, except with the authority of a permit, engage in fishing, collecting or removing any aquatic plants, except for own use and in quantities not exceeding 10 kg aquatic plants, however, 1 kg dead shells or 50 kg shellgrit per day is permitted without a permit.
  15. No person shall, except with the authority of a permit, damage, pick, uproot, collect or land or attempt to damage, pick, uproot, collect or land any live or dead sea fans or sea pens.
  16. No person shall, without a permit issued by the Director-General, culture any marine organisms.
  17. No person shall, except with the authority of a permit, catch any fish or collect any aquatic plants for commercial purposes.

For more information phone: (021) 402-3911 or consult the Amended Regulations (R24 of 14 January 2000) in terms of the Marine Living Resources Act, 1998

 

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Garrick for Carl Gouws at Seapark

Swimming in the backline with Craig Sinclair, and all of a sudden surrounded by hunting dolphins and garrick…Carl banged his first of the season.
That’s about the 10th fish we’ve heard of so far! They could teach the sardines a lesson or two in punctuality.
They were spearfishing on the backline at Seapark, a really good spot for garrick and daga salmon, and of course shad.
So the dolphins paid a visit and the whales were whaling out back.
But no sardines…
Nice fish Carl!