Sardine Run info - fresh from the horse's mouth

[SASpearo]

I receive daily updates on the sardine run happening in Kwazulu Natal at the moment, I'll post everything I get in this thread ....

8 June 2002

Increased activity was spotted south of Port Edward, but no-one has started netting yet

9 June 2002

Lots of activity reported off Port Edward.Lots of bird and dolphin activity reported. Big surf kept the people from netting

10 June 2002

Fairly busy over the week-end with many dolphins and cape gannets providing a spectacle for people in the Port Edward and Glenmore areas on the lower south coast. Unfortunately a wave size of 1.5m and warm sea temperatures kept the sardine shoals offshore for the majority of the time. No sardines were netted however an exciting time was had by all. Good captures of garrick and king mackerel were recorded by fisherman jigging and dropping off the rocks in the area

Another small net was pulled later in the afternoon at Umtentweni, Northwest wind kept them from pulling more

11 June 2002

Small pockets of sardines in the Kelso area in front of Happy Wanderers caravan park. Commercial netting has taken place for the majority of the day. At least 15 nets taken averaging 200 baskets a net. Other activity off Banana Beach. Intense activity off the Wild Coast from the Casino to Waterfall Bluff. Approximately 3000 bottlenose and thousands of common dolphins in the area. Large shoals of sardine and many cape gannets diving. Prospects for the forthcoming long weekend on the lower south coast of KwaZulu Natal look excellent.

12 June 2002

3 nets pulled at Elysium (between Ifafa and Mt. Wallumi) and a 2-3km long shoal reported passing Port Edward

13 June 2002

Lots of netting all along the south coast, best spot Rocky Bay at Park Rynie. A massive shoal was also spotted off Glenmore and the area south of it.

TBC

Riaan

[SASpearo]

Small pocket at Umgababa, Large shoal deep off San lameer reported today ....

[Griff]

Shot Riaan

I spoke to Brian last night. Says he dived ifafa on saturday. 25m viz, got 3 garrik, saw 10000sardines 60 blacktips 2 zambies and 3 whites. the whites followed them from the outer reef back to backline. sounds like a full day doesnt it?

Cheers
Mark

[SASpearo]

I spoke to him last week (or the week before - I'm confused) as well - he was telling me that 'some guys' took 8 Cuda between 20kg and 28kg's off Hibberdene .....

What's your tally? Been out again or not?

[Griff]

i went out at umhloti yesterday with a friend who sort of dives (borrowed some scuba fins), we were just past backline, and about to go in, because the viz wanst too good, when i looked down after telling him something to see about 10 snoek scooting past underneath me. i went down after them, but the surge was kicking up a lot of sand, and the curtains were closed before i got down anyway, it was good to be back in the water. i havent spearfished since hibberdene, but i have done some rockpool hunting for my tank. its looking 100x better now.
hows the cape? durbs has had the most number of consecutive windless days that i can remeber.
cheers
mark

[SASpearo]

I guess.

I got severely taxed on Saturday - I had a VET Galjoen on my stringer, around 6 kilo's, the biggest one I've ever seen, and 3 omans .... untill mister Zambezi decided it's time to tax me.

Took one bite, all 4 fish gone, half my stringer gone to hell as well. Quite a bummer. Otherwise had some crappish news last week (I'll PM you) so life in general is not too good.

Ciao,
Riaan

PS: Hope you get yer fins soon ...