The 2026 Sardine Run has officially begun along KwaZulu-Natal's South Coast, with seine netters successfully hauling in the first significant catches at Port Edward over the weekend.
Thousands of spectators gathered on local beaches as netters brought in multiple crates of sardines, signalling the start of one of South Africa's most anticipated annual marine events.
Authorities are urging beachgoers to exercise caution in the coming weeks as large numbers of fishermen, tourists and marine predators, including sharks and dolphins, are expected to follow the shoals along the coastline.
Angler Adam Kamdar said the migration was triggered by a combination of cold sea temperatures and rough weather conditions.
"The Sardine Run 2026 is officially on. The first nets were pulled in Port Edward on Saturday," Kamdar said.
"The pilot shoals were driven up the coast by a frontal system with low temperatures and big sea swells. These conditions made it treacherous to be at sea and nets were swept sideways in the currents and damaged on the rocks."
Despite the challenging conditions, the early catches proved lucrative for fishermen. Kamdar said smaller hauls fetched as much as R1,200 per crate at wholesale prices, while street vendors sold sardines for around R50 a dozen.
"Within an hour of netting, sardines were already on sale in Overport and Chatsworth. Yesterday, the netters banked some more fish at Port Edward," he added.
The annual Sardine Run, often described as one of the world's greatest marine migrations, attracts visitors from across the country and abroad, boosting tourism and providing a welcome economic boost to coastal communities.
With the season now officially underway, residents and visitors are expected to flock to KwaZulu-Natal's beaches in the hope of witnessing the spectacular natural phenomenon firsthand.