-
Annual sardine run is expected to move closer to Durban shores in the coming weeks
Anticipation is building along the KwaZulu-Natal coast as the annual sardine run is expected to move closer to Durban shores in the coming weeks.
The massive marine phenomenon, triggered by winter cold fronts, has fishermen and coastal communities closely monitoring ocean activity for the first major shoals.
Angling expert Adam Kamdar notes that while public interest is high, sea and weather conditions will ultimately determine how close the fish get to the beach.
“At the moment, we’re waiting for them to regroup around the East London PE area. We’ve had some reports of Gannets diving but not too much action yet, so it’s really right at the beginning of the sardine run. Sardines look for the cold water channels, so we really need the water temperatures to drop. If there’s snow on the Berg and the snow melts, the rivers flow out to sea and cools things down, as well as cold fronts that move up the coast causes huge south-westerly swells which helps to push the sardines up, as well as drop the temperatures.”
PODCAST |Anticipation mounts as KwaZulu-Natal braces for the annual Sardine Run:
May-July, South Africa’s Wild Coast hosts the Sardine Run 🇿🇦🐟
Millions of sardines migrate up the coast, attracting dolphins, sharks, whales & seabirds in one of the ocean’s greatest spectacles.
Dive in, head out by boat, or watch from shore – add this to your bucket list! 🌊 pic.twitter.com/S6e4SWDMys
— South African Tourism (@southafricauk) May 11, 2026
