Sardines wait for the right wave

Silver ribbons of tiny fish in the annual sardine run could be at least two weeks away from the KwaZulu-Natal coast.

KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board head of operations Michael Anderson-Reade yesterday said the presence of predators in Coffee Bay was indicative that there was "some sardine activity".

But the board's sardine survey flight to the region this week proved disappointing.

"We expected more, and for the fish to be closer, but there were Cape gannets diving and bottlenose dolphins. Although disappointing, it's not to say that the sardines won't arrive. Each year it's a guess as to when they will arrive," he said.

Anderson-Reade predicts the pilot shoal of sardines will hit the shores in two weeks' time.

"Right now, the water on the lower south coast is 21.5°C. We need that water temperature to be below 20," he said.

Millions of sardines usually leave the cold waters off Cape Point and make their way to the east coast in June or July.

Each winter, holidaymakers flock to KwaZulu-Natal to catch a glimpse of the spectacle, which includes sharks, birds and dolphins.