Satellite sea surface temperature data and reports from commercial vessel operators confirm that exceptionally large pilchard shoals are currently concentrated along the KwaZulu-Natal reef edge between Durban and Zinkwazi, and along the Eastern Cape inner reef from Port Alfred northward. These concentrations are the largest reported for this time of year in over a decade.
What the Pilchards Are Attracting
Wherever pilchards concentrate in numbers this large, a full suite of predators follows. Current reports indicate significant concentrations of Spanish mackerel (couta), shad (elf), kob, and garrick along the KZN reef edge, with larger pelagics — sailfish and even occasional marlin — being sighted in the associated blue water just offshore.
Why So Many Pilchards?
The current concentration is linked to two factors: an unusually cold late-autumn water temperature (22.1°C inshore — 0.8°C below average) which is keeping the pilchards closer to shore than normal, and reduced commercial netting activity in the area over the past three seasons which has allowed populations to rebuild strongly.