Whatshot
Sardine Run 2021
Sardine Run 2021
Date: 2021-06-14
On Tuesday the 22nd of June 2021, the KZN Sharks Board conducted a sardine observation flight through to Rame Head in the Eastern Cape waters.
The first sign of sardine activity on the trip south was at Scottburgh where large shoals of sardines were seen scattered throughout this area just behind the backline and in the surf zone. Netting took place from first light where they netted approximately 14 times during the morning at Scottburgh main beach. There were also reports of some shark activity in amongst these pockets.
As we continued south there were scattered pockets of sardines in the backline and surf zones at times, from Scottburgh through to Pumula. There were also a few pockets in the surf zone between Oslo and Shelly Beach.
The next concentration of activity was in the Eastern Cape waters between Port Grosvenor and Luputhana. Here there were numerous pods of Bottlenose dolphins together with scattered gannet activity, all moving north.
Most of this action was in a thin belt of discoloured water just behind the backline.
Further south between the Mngazi Mouth and Rame Head there were also large concentrations of around 1500 Bottlenose and about 5000 Common dolphins further off shore. There were no actual shoals of sardines visible on the surface in this area. As we all know there are no guarantees with sardines but there is a good chance that the areas between Warner Beach and Scottburgh maybe a good bet for tomorrow's action.
The Sharks Board will continue to closely mon itor sardine activity and remove or replace shark safety gear as required. Bathing is still banned from Port Edward to Isipingo as a precaution due to the sardine movement.