27/05/2022
Sardine run 2022
Media Press Release 24th May
The KZN Sharks Board today, conducted an observation flight into the Eastern Cape Waters to assess the movement of the sardine shoals thus far. The flight departed from Virginia airport and turned at Hole in the Wall.
The water was very discoloured for most of the coastline, especially in KZN due to the latest flooding. However the visibility improved as we got into the Eastern Cape and from the Msikaba area the activity started to pick up, which was good to see.
The following observations where made as we moved through to Hole in the Wall.
These numbers are approximate figures.
Msikaba - 20 x bottlenose moving north just behind the backline.
- 200 x common dolphin charging north 1km offshore.
- 2 x humpback whales moving north 1km offshore.
Grosvenor - 15-20 x sharks jumping in the muddy water 150m behind backline with 30 gannets searching.
This is a definite indication that there are sardines in that area.
Goss Point - 7 x small shoals of sardines close to the backline.
Luphuthana - 15-20 common dolphin charging north 1km offshore.
Waterfall Bluff - Three pods of about 500 common dolphin feeding in the area with yellowfin tuna feeding on bait balls and approximately 200 gannets diving. Very active from backline to about 2km offshore.
Mbotyi - 6x shoals of sardines on backline with 80 -100 bottlenose moving north.
- 1000 x common dolphin feeding scattered 2km offshore.
Manteku - 1 x big shoal of sardines on backline with terns feeding in this area.
Black Sands - 1000 x common dolphin moving north 2km offshore.
Mntafufu - 60 x bottlenose moving north 1km offshore and +-50 gannets diving and rafting.
Poenskop - 500 x common dolphin moving north 2km offshore.
Umngazi - 200 x bottlenose dolphin moving north 1km offshore.
Umngazana - 60 x scattered dolphin activity, 1km offshore.
Brazen Head - Thin small shoals, with terns feeding but these pockets looked more than like red-eyes.
The Kraal - 200 x scattered bottlenose feeding and 50x gannets sitting on the water. Approximately 20 x sardine shoals along the backline.
Mpande -Numerous shoals of sardines moving north along the backline. 200x bottlenose dolphin moving north with +- 50 terns dipping/feeding on these shoals.
- Another 50 x bottlenose dolphin feeding on backline just south of the river.
Hluleka – Numerous shoals of sardines on backline.
- 2 x pods of 70-80 bottlenose dolphin moving north on backline.
- Bait balls of sardine on backline, with terns dipping/feeding.
Mtakatye - 100 x bottlenose dolphin moving north on backline.
Presley Bay - Five x shoals of sardines on backline, with sharks and 50 x bottlenose dolphin moving north. There were +-50 gannets diving and sitting in this area.
Mdumbi - 50 x bottlenose dolphin moving north on backline and about 20 gannets searching.
Mthatha - 40 x bottlenose moving north 1km offshore.
Maphuzi - 80 bottlenose dolphin moving north in the backline. Three thin shoals of probably red-eyes spraying.
Coffee Bay - 1x large shoal of sardines in back line.
Hole in the Wall - 3 x shoals of sardines in the backline, with 150 x bottlenose dolphin moving north.
The most favourable water visibility on this flight was only approximately 3-4m and this was in the entire area between Hole in the Wall and Umgazana.
These indications are all positive, that the sardines are making their way up from the Eastern Cape towards KwaZulu-Natal. Especially, when you take the increase in shark activity at Grosvenor into consideration. There is also a good possibility that we may have missed activity further north towards KZN due to the poor visibility.
However there have been many occasions in the past when predictions and opinions have been totally incorrect.
These fish can move through in the deep or in the discoloured water that we are experiencing at the moment, out of sight of most of the predators and arrive in KZN without warning. Then there is always the possibility that they continue moving north on the deeper line and we don’t get to see them at all.
The next flight to East London is scheduled for the 2nd of June; however this is dependent on weather conditions. The Head of Operations of the KZNSB will continue to update information on activity as and when flights have been completed.
Greg Thompson
(Acting) HOD Operations Division
