Net worth in silver
SARDINE fever hit the South Coast yesterday, with the shoals of silver fish visible from the shore at Scottburgh and Pennington. Two large nets were taken at Scottburgh and there were also number of seine netters on the beach.
The head of operations at the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board, Mike Anderson-Reade, said the shoals were moving very quickly and the netters had found it difficult to set their nets around them.
Four decent-size nets had been taken at Pennington and a shoal was missed at Rocky Bay, Park Rynie.
He said the main concentration of sardines was between Scottburgh and Umtwalumi. Small pockets had also been seen off St Michaels and Uvongo. However, no netting had been attempted in these areas.
Shark nets have been removed at Scottburgh and bathing will remain closed until such time as the activity subsides.
Shark nets have been replaced at the following beaches on the South Coast: Hibberdene, Southport, St Michaels, Margate Main Beach, Ramsgate, San Lameer/ Marina and TO Strand.
Bathers visiting the South Coast beaches are urged to check with local lifeguards as to the state of bathing before entering the water.
With the latest netting on the South Coast, social media was abuzz with the news of the sardines and people had only two questions to ask: “Where can I buy and how much?”
A crate of the fish was going for anything from R28 upwards, with crates being advertised at reduced rates for those wanting to try their luck at netting some off the beach.
Some people were advertising four dozen sardines at R200, with one dozen free of charge.