Sardine Run arrives on the South Coast

Visitors to the South Coast were treated to an ocean spectacle last weekend as the greatest shoal on earth, the annual Sardine Run, arrived with gusto, a day after World Oceans Day.

The planet’s biggest biomass migration, which takes place in the winter months when the temperature drops, attracts whales, dolphins, sharks, game fish, and birds looking for a salty feast.

CEO of South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise (SCTIE), Phelisa Mangcu, said: “We are so excited to welcome the Sardine Run to the South Coast, a hugely anticipated natural phenomenon that always arrives in its own time. This is a bucket-list event for divers, anglers, and ocean lovers, with sightings of the migrating humpback whales also a real treat. While there are many ways to view the Sardine Run, we do advise bathers that the shark nets have to be lifted for their safe movements, making it vital to check with lifeguards on duty as to which beaches are open for bathing.”

She added that reports indicate that Sardine Run action has been noted along the Eastern Cape the past couple of weeks, with the pilot shoal making an appearance on the South Coast last Friday.
Wayne Harrison, acting head of operations at KZN Sharks Board, said they were notified of underwater sardine activity on Glenmore, lower South Coast at 6.30am.

“On the echosounder they were showing large masses going through but very low down on the sand bypassing Glenmore. There was also an increase in bait fish at Port Edward near the lighthouse, heading north. We couldn’t track them any further north around the Margate and Uvongo areas,” said Harrison.

However, on Saturday morning, Harrison said: “We picked up fish activity just south of Port Shepstone and that shoal stretched from Umbango past the Port Shepstone Lighthouse and into the bay at Umzimkhulu, to the northern side of Shaka’s Rock. The shoal was moving pretty quickly northwards and due to the fresh south-westerly wind, nobody was able to net as the tide was too high and the shore break too big.”

Last Sunday, Harrison said the fish started just south of Pumula and attempts to net there and Hibberdene were unsuccessful: “At Umfazazane the whole area was covered with sardines but nobody was able to net there, but by the time the fish got to Elysium, three nets were made ranging from 60 to 80 crates per net.”

He added that the bulk of sardine action was along East London to Kei Mouth, with fish coming closer inshore: “If things materialise, it could be quite some season!”

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