The 2026 Sardine Run has officially kicked off on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. Seine netters have successfully been hauling in significant catches at Port Edward.
Huge crowds gathered at the weekend as seine netters brought in multiple crates of sardines, marking the start of the highly anticipated annual migration.
Authorities are now urging beachgoers to remain cautious as an influx of fishermen, tourists, and marine predators is expected along the coastline in the coming weeks.
#PODCAST With the significant shoals hitting Port Edward, the 2026 Sardine Run is now officially underway #sabcnews https://t.co/IQbZI6EuPz #sabckzn @salpatel786
— SABC News Radio (@SABCNews_Radio) June 15, 2026
Angler Adam Kamdar says, “The sardine run 2026 is officially on. The first nets were pulled in Port Edward on Saturday. 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.”
He says the smaller catches fetched as much as R1200 per crate wholesale and R50 for a dozen on the streets.
“Within an hour of netting, sardines were already on sale in Overport and Chatsworth. Yesterday, the netters banked some more fish at Port Edward,” added Kamdar.
PODCAST | The 2026 Sardine Run is now officially underway:
![[FILE IMAGE]: Fishermen are seen hauling in a net of sardines.](https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Sardine-run-REUTERS-300x169.jpg)
