The sardine season in South Africa starts in May and ends in June, but it’s a little more complicated than that. This article discusses what you need to know about the sardine season, from why there’s a sardine season at all to how best to enjoy South Africa’s sardines.
What are sardines?
Sardines are small, silver-skinned fish found in the Atlantic Ocean. They are typically caught by the ton and canned for use as a protein source. They can be eaten whole or chopped up and used as an ingredient.
How do you catch them?
South African fishermen will leave the coastal waters when the sardines start heading north and return once they have gone. Fishermen use traditional nets and handlines, baited with tuna or pilchards, to catch them. The technique is called gill netting because a net is stretched out across the surface of the water with its bottom edge anchored on the seabed. When fish swim into it, they are caught by their gills as they try to swim out of the net.
Where are they found in SA?
The sardine run is typically found off the coast of the Western Cape, where the cold Benguela current meets the warm Agulhas current. As these two currents collide, they create a rich feeding ground for these small but tasty fish. The sardines are most abundant during the winter months (February and March) as they migrate southwards, following their prey and avoiding colder waters. To find them, you’ll need to head out into the open ocean.
The upsides of being on the coast during sardine season
The sardine run is a phenomenon that occurs when billions of sardines migrate along the coast of South Africa and Namibia. Sardines prefer the warmer waters found near the equator, so they often swim near the shores during their migration. The migration typically takes place from November through March but has been known to occur as late as May.
The event is relatively short-lived, and fishermen can make a lot of money by catching sardines before they return out into deep water.
