Sardine Run Part 2, Common Dolphins
By Lloyd Edwards

As per our last post, Algoa Bay has been experiencing a wonderful sardine run this year. The bait fish have been rampant; both East and West of Algoa Bay. During our cruises we see bait fish all over the bay, boiling on the surface and attracting all sorts of predators.

 

So who are the main predators that drive these bait balls consisting of plankton eating fish? We know that the African penguins also corral fish into what we call “penguin bait balls”, but these are quite small. The really big static bait balls are formed by our Long-beaked common dolphins. We have encountered and have followed them every day in Algoa Bay for the past two weeks. Look out for diving Cape gannets and these fellows will be close by. It is unprecedented that they remain so close to shore in Algoa Bay, for such an extended period. This is due to the cold water that is trapped in the bay, with its associated fauna and flora. Hence the very misty days that we have been experiencing lately.

 

Common dolphins prowl around the bay, always on the lookout for food. The school size varies from around 600 to up to 10 000. The larger schools are normally found much further to the south and out of the bay. Their daily activities range from socializing and mating, being spread out very wide while searching for fish, the charge when the fish have been located, corralling the fish into a static ball and then the feast!

Anyone who has had the privileged to experience this will have it etched into their minds forever!