What is the Sardine Run?

The Sardine Run occurs between late May, June and July along the East coast of South Africa when millions of sardines migrate up the East coast of South Africa from the Cape. Their sheer numbers create a feeding frenzy along the coastline in what is one of the largest marine events in the world. This has been dubbed “The Greatest Shoal on Earth” by the Kwa Zulu Natal Tourist Board.
Initially the sardines spawn in the cool waters of the Agulhas Bank through spring and early summer. Most of the fish stay in the cooler waters of the Atlantic Ocean and end up along the West coast of Africa.

It is thought that the run on the East coast, containing millions of individual sardines, occurs when a current of cold water heads north from the Agulhas Bank up to Mozambique where it then leaves the coastline and goes further East out into the Indian Ocean. In terms of biomass, researchers estimate the sardine run could rival East Africa’s great wildebeest migration. However, little is known of the phenomenon. It is believed that the water temperature has to drop below 21`C in order for the migration to take place.
The shoals are often more than 7km long, 1,5km wide and 30meters deep and are clearly visable from spotter planes or from the surface.

Sardines group together when they are threatened. This instinctual behaviour is a defense mechanism as individuals are more likely to be eaten than large groups. These bait balls can be 10 – 20 meters in diameter and extend to a depth of 10 meters. The bait balls are short lived and seldom last longer than 10 minutes.
 
It is thought that dolphins(estimated as being up to 18,000 in number, mostly common dolphin but also bottlenose dolphin) are responsible for rounding up the sardines into bait balls. Once the sardines are rounded up, sharks (primarily the bronze whaler, but also dusky shark, blacktip shark, spnner shark and Zambezi shark) game fish and birds take advantage of the opportunity.

The cape fur seal follows the shoals up the Eastern Cape coastline as far as Port St Johns.
As the sardines move north, teir behavior based on water temperature is less predictable but can sometimes reach as far as Durban before heading out to sea to continue their annual migration.
The Sardine Run is prolific around Port St Johns in the Transkei which is the main reason we set up base in the area, it simply offers the best of the activity.

Each morning the boat heads out from Port St Johns river to cruise the ocean in search of sardine activity – normally located from large flocks of sea birds or huge schools of common and bottlenose dolphins. We also communicate with the Sharks Board and other operators to locate any great action.
Once the sardines have been located and we have established the bait ball is not moving too fast, snorkelers and divers are invited to enter the water to view the activity first hand, while those that prefer to stay dry can witness this amazing phenomenon from the boat, which is just as spectacular.
Please note:
Because of the manner of the boat launching and beaching as well as possible uncomfortable sea conditions it is advisable that those of limited mobility and frailty or back problems limit themselves to land based viewing