Confirmed: Sardinops sagax sardines documented off Port St Johns - 06:09 pm
16 Jun 2009
After filming some early morning common dolphin predation on what we suspect were red - eye sardines just off Port St Johns, we headed south towards Brazenhead. Attracted by a small group of diving gannets off Mngazi, we jumped in not far from shore, in greenish water with around five meter visibility. Very quickly it became clear that the baitball we were on was the real deal, Sardinops sagax. Not only were these sardines bigger then the red-eyes we had been filming to date, but their balling behaviour was different, much tighter. Unfortunately the usual predators appeared to be put off by our presence and apart from one charge by two dolphin and the odd gannet dive, we witnessed nothing epic. That aside, its great to have confirmation that the sardines we have been waiting for are here.
Posted by Earth - Touch Marine Crew; Roger Horrocks, Barry Skinstad, Ian Cook.
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Comments
2 posted at 10:22pm on 18 June, 2009 by David Allardice
Don’t forget that small piece of mirror now Rog.
3 posted at 10:18pm on 21 June, 2009 by Tom Walmsley
Hi Roger, material is looking great! Like the credits for you too.
Do you think you have the resources to sort out a stills story for us to represent while the sardine run is still going? Video representation is going well.
Keep in touch.
Tom
Director
Specialist Stock
4 posted at 08:51am on 28 October, 2009 by scuba equipment
nice to read that you have been successful in finding your sardines. good work
5 posted at 08:54am on 31 October, 2009 by scubabasics
The picture of sardines is realy awesome. This kind of pics and articles are very motivating for divers. It realy a pleasent feeling for me to hear about your blog, becouse it realy interesting.
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3:25 PM Nov 17 2009 - This will help to cool the water, further improving conditions for bigger pulses of sardines to move up the coast.
7:05 AM Jun 18 2009 - Strongish north easterlies forecast for the next three days.
7:05 AM Jun 18 2009 - Great White sharks are not known to feed on sardines however.
7:04 AM Jun 18 2009 - We saw a small great white shark right up against Brazenhead two days ago.
7:03 AM Jun 18 2009
1 posted at 08:36am on 17 June, 2009 by Sean O'Donoghue
Stoked to hear you’re getting sardine at last. enjoy