June 2005
Sardine are running
Just as we had mentioned the legend of the Aloes and the sardine run, we get news that the sardine are on their way up the South Coast.
According to news reports, the sardines have arrived in their thousands on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast and were spotted at Maphumulo on Monday.
On Sunday the shoals made an appearance at Glenmore, Port Edward and Margate and the sea was very, very busy with what appears to be the head of the main shoal. Mike Anderson-Reade from the Sharks Board said lots of sardine activity was expected in the next few weeks and warned that bathing in those areas was not recommended.
The frenzy caused when thousands of the slippery silver fish were washed onto the beach and scooped up in buckets and skirts by excited onlookers, was when the fishermen pull sardines into the nets and they pull those nets onto the beach, often a lot of fish wash out all around the place.
The last time the sardines ended up close to the coastline and on the beach naturally was about three years ago but then they were probably forced by predators.
Last week sharks, dolphins and gannets were seen in the Port St Johns area and were expected to be travelling with the sardines along the South Coast.
What great fun, wish I was there to experience it all again, grabbing linen baskets, buckets or whatever receptacle is on hand, jumping into your car and driving down to the nearest beach that they were last seen. Traffic chaos everywhere. Old, young and even men in their business suits all caught up in the sardine mania and dashing into the waves to get a sardine or plenty.
“I must down to the sea again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied.”
John Masefield