Sardine season is nearly here
The Sardine Run is known to help increase the foot count at beaches, local eateries, shopping centres and accommodation venues.
The annual Sardine Run is one of the biggest tourist attractions for the South Coast, and as winter nears – so does the Greatest Shoal on Earth.
Year after year, people simply cannot get enough of the little silver fish.
In KZN, this phenomenon usually occurs from May through July when millions of sardines spawn in the cool waters of the Agulhas Bank and move northward along the east coast of the country.
As they travel in massive numbers, the sards create a feeding frenzy along the coastline which attracts big game fish, and of course, fishermen hoping for tight lines too.
In KZN, the Sardine Run is known to help increase the foot count at beaches, local eateries, shopping centres and accommodation venues.
“Winter on the South Coast, which enjoys a year-round subtropical climate, is incredible for the Sardine Run and other outdoor adventures. With the holidays approaching, now’s the time to visit,” said Dr Vusumuzi Sibiya, CEO of South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise (SCTIE).
The Sardine Run movement is monitored by the KZN Sharks Board with regular updates shared on the SCTIE social media platforms.
Wayne Harrison of the KZN Sharks Board said that while the Sardine Run activity is yet to get underway, there has been some ocean activity further south.
“At Port Alfred, there’s been quite a bit of bait fish recently with Bryde’s whales coming up to the boats and a pod of young orcas. Further south to Jeffrey’s Bay, there have been common dolphins in the deep feeding and whales in the vicinity. While there’s no sardine activity yet, we are closely monitoring the situation,” he said.
Another common way of monitoring the run is by looking out for blooming aloes which are said to signal the start of the migration.
Now, while there is still a little bit of time before the sards arrive, locals are reminded that they can experience the run by fishing, taking a charter boat, diving, snorkelling, watching from a deck, or by visiting one of the many local beaches when there is some action.
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