Sardine Run...What's it all about

As usual we will be doing guided fishing and photographic tours for the period of the Sardine Run this year. June July maybe August. As most of you know this event is unpredictable as far as timing is concerned and also logistically can be very challenging! Putting those attributes aside this exhilarating event is one not to miss!

As April progressed and the offshore winds start to blow along the East Coast and the water colour turns greener and colder the word on everyone's lips is Sardines. The whole Sardine experience is mind blowing. To be out on a flat calm Ocean and all of a sudden the water explodes with Fish, Sharks, Dolphins, and Whales is something words cannot describe

Dates

Our schedule is flexible and based on the migration and showings of the sardines. Through our network of resources we are able to get up to date information on the whereabouts of the Sardines. The most popular time is the end of June and the beginning of July, even as late as August.

What will I need?

We will provide you with a full list of what you will need to bring along. You will of course need your Jetski, valid safety equipment, skippers ticket, and fishing licence. You will definitely need cameras and videos! We also offer land based viewings where you will see netting of the Sardines. We have a huge network of Sardine Spotters to assist in our search for Sardines. We also arrange Scuba Diving Tours.

What fish can you expect to catch?

The game fish that follow the Sardine Shoals are Snoek, (Queen Mackerel) Couta (King Mackerel) Bonito, Yellowfin Tuna, Sail Fish.

Photographic and video opportunities

We will be up close and personal with the Gannets, where you would be forgiven for thinking you should be wearing a crash helmet as they repeatedly drop from the air with exacting precision to eat their little silver prey. Whales, Dolphins, and Sharks will be very close. We will keep a safe distance and we will not interfere or go too close to the Whales.

More Sardine Run Information

In summary

What are you waiting for give me call Mick Clarke South Africa Cell 072 938 1769 International 0027 72 938 1769 or email me This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

ps Don't forget to check our Facebook updates on the front page of this website

Please consider a donation www.jetskifishingsa.co.za costs a lot of time and money to maintain and is funded by Donations via PayPal EFT or Credit Card. Please consider supporting the website. The PayPal Donation is converted to Rands by PayPal. Thanks Codfather. You can choose a donation amount from the drop down menu and if you don't have a PayPal account you just follow the instructions to create one....Safe and simple!!!! Amount

Option 1 $10.00 USD Option 2 $15.00 USD Option 3 $20.00 USD Option 4 $30.00 USD Option 5 $40.00 USD Option 6 $50.00 USD

4x4 Tyre Deflator Super Fast!

Never has been deflating your Tyres been so easy as with this unique Tyre Deflator. This is one of the best accessories you will buy.

Battery Buddy no3 #3

OVERVIEW OF BATTERY BUDDY #3

All-in-One PowerBank, Jump Start, and LED Flashlight!

A powerful compact and convenient one of a kind charge-everything device that fits inside your pocket or cubby hole of your vehicle. Never worry about your smart phone, laptop or tablet running low on battery ever again. If your car or SUV won’t start, you don’t have to call a tow truck service for assistance. If you enjoy the outdoors you don’t need to bring an additional flashlight. The Battery Buddy is the only thing you need to solve all of these problems. It’s the Swiss army knives of portable power bank devices. It can power and charge all of your devices, start your car, and even save your life in the outdoors!Please note that this model can be used for both Petrol and Diesel engines.

POWER BANK

Portable Battery Charger On The Go

A great travel companion that you can take with you on the go to charge all of your portable electronic devices, such as smart phones, laptops, tablets, cameras, camcorders, GPS unit, MP3 players, wireless headphones, and portable gaming systems. It’s equipped with a 5V / 2.1A USB ports that can charge multiple devices fast and simultaneously. Once devices are fully charged it will go into sleep mode to preserve the battery.

CAR AND SUV JUMP STARTER

Compact and Convenient To Keep In The Car!

If your car or SUV won’t start don’t call a tow truck service or wait on the side of the road for help. Use the Battery Buddy #3 with the jumper cables to start your car battery in a matter of seconds. Keep it in the cubby hole at all times and you can use it multiple times (Up to 20x on a full charge). It’s so easy and convenient to use that every driver should keep one at all times.Please note that this model can be used for both Petrol and Diesel engines.

FLASHLIGHT

Ultra-Bright LED Flashlight That’s Convenient For All Purposes!

Whether you’re working under the hood, or outdoors camping you’ll be glad to have this flashlight handy. It has multiple illumination modes: Constant On and SOS Signal Light. If you’re outdoors camping and find yourself in an emergency situation you can use the SOS signal light flash to attract attention. Once activated the SOS signal flash will stay on continuously for up to 120 hours on a full charge. It can make the difference in saving your life

Boat Hook Telescopic

As an additional required Safety Item in Mozambique you are required to carry a Boat Hook. Jetski Fishng SA can offer you a Lightweight Telescopic Boat Hook. These Boat Hooks are used to either pull another craft safely to you at close range, or you can pull yourself closer to another vessel. We also offer the other items of Safety Equipment required in Mozambique that are not required in South Africa like a V Flag, Emergency Water, Emergency Food etc.

BRP Sea Doo Jetski Diagnostic Service Checks

Whatever Diagnostic Fault you have with your BRP Sea Doo Jetski give us a call.

Reset Service Light

Add components 

Add ECU

Reset TPS

HISTORY of Jetski Fish Finders.

Firstly when I say Fish Finder I actually mean Fish Finder / Sonar GPS Chart Plotter, or whatever you may call your particular Marine Electronics device. A "Fish Finder" as we will call it from now is probably not on the list of a "Must Haves" when you first purchase your Jetski or at least you are probably thinking that you have to purchase the lowest cost you can get away with as it probably will not make much difference anyway. You could not be further from the truth! From my own personal experience once you have a fish finder and it is taken away it will be like driving a car down a dark road with no lights. Yes its that important to me. Actually more important to me is the Chart Plotter as you can always ask a mate to supply you some GPS marks. The different types of fish you target may demand a better quality, or different type of fish finder, but more of that later.

CHOICES

When purchasing a new Fish Finder beyond 2025 these are a few of the questions to ask yourself......

Screen size. Is it important? Yes it definitely is important. The bigger the better, however a 7 inch is perfect. A 5 inch unit was OK until the new landscape format units came out and now 7 inch is the one to go for as long as your budget allows. A few guys have fitted 9 inch units and they are amazing, however you must reinforce the mounting point on your Jetski.

Do you need a Map Card? Units now come with a basic GPS to get you to your favourite fishing spot and back again. For some people that's OK. The benefit of course is that you do not have a door to open to access a memory card which could take in water. We do of course have a Fish Finder Cover to solve that issue Check them out here..... Flexible Covers If you do choose not to have a Map Card to be honest you would be missing out on so much! No transferring of Waypoints quickly. No back up of your Waypoints & Trails. No Map detail like 1 ft contours. NO area maps to find reefs and drop offs quickly.

Should I buy a Map Card...Yes that's my answer. Its like buying a TV with no programs and making your own content. No thanks I want to fish! The newer cards now have 1ft contours that gives you incredible reef details so you can do more fishing. Give me a shout if you want to know more about Map Cards.

Which Transducer will you use as they are not compatible with all units. Please contact me for further advice on Transducers WhatsApp Mick 072 938 1769 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Where will you mount the unit? Gone are the days where you could bolt your Head Unit onto the front hood. It just doesn't work and your unit will not last for very long due to the vibration and bouncing about. We make Custom Mounts from Stainless Steel and also supply RAM mounts

Lowrance offer a range of three choices of Fish Finders I would recommend for Jetski Fishing

Lowrance Eagle Fish Finders (Good)

Firstly the newer Eagle Range Lowrance Eagle Fish Finders which are available in 4, 5, 7, and 9 inch versions. To be honest I would not recommend the 4 inch version for a Jetski at all! For the budget conscious buyers and anyone who just wants the basics and would rather be fishing than playing with electronics this is the range I would recommend. Simple to use and nice bright colour screens they are a great entry to mid level unit. You can purchase from our online shop here Lowrance Eagle Fish Finders or WhatsApp Mick on 072 938 1769

Lowrance Elite FS (Better)

The next level of Fish Finder GPS combination unit from the Lowrance range I would recommend is the Elite FS Range. Especially the 7-inch version which is the ideal size for a Fishing Jetski. The Elite FS range fpr Jetski Fishing is available in 7 inch and 9 inch. You can purchase from our online shop here Lowrance Elite FS Fish Finders or WhatsApp Mick on 072 938 1769

Lowrance HDS Pro (Best)

Finally, the creme de la creme of Fish Finders the HDS Pro range. HDS PRO RANGE Although not available in a 7 inch model anymore the option available is a 9 inch model. Plenty of guys now have 9 inch units due to the clarity of the screens. As we are not getting any younger it becomes harder to see the tiny writing on screens! If that's you a 9 inch unit is what I would recommend. That's what I have and if its affordable to you I would suggest you get a 7-inch HDS Live. The display is amazing bright and clear. Two card slots which is invaluable if you want to map your on contours with your unit.  You can purchase from our online shop here HDS PRO RANGE  or WhatsApp Mick on 072 938 1769

INSTALLATION

There are basically two ways to mount a Transducer onto a Jetski. Internally and externally. Prior to 2014 the installation of choice was to mount an Airmar P79 inside the hull. This type of transducer is filled with antifreeze or light oil and worked extremely well if fitted correctly! The benefit of fitting an in-hull transducer is that when beaching and trailering / de trailering the transducer is protected. The downside is that you need to fit an external temperature transmitter. With the arrival of HDI and Chirp technology it has become essential to mount your Transducer externally. We custom make Fish Finder Mounting Brackets for all models. 2019 seen the arrival of Side Scan and huge Transducers which now gives us the capability of 120 metres side view from your vessel. In reality I have found that 30 to 40 metres side view in the Ocean is perfect on a very calm day! These new Transducers are definitely a challenge on a Jetski as beaching and de trailering can be a problem, so great care must be taken. I would definitely say use a Beach Roller. In my opinion however the benefits outweigh the negatives. 

If you need advice please contact us Cell / WhatsApp Mick 072 938 1769 email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

TRANSDUCERS

If you would like the best Transducer for normal Broadband Sonar you can't beat a 83/ 200 if you fish in less than 60 metres of water or a 50/200 if you fish deeper. CHIRP Transducers are a good option. If you want Side Scan go for a Lowrance 3 in 1 Transducer but be warned they are huge! Here are some of the Transducers available. Transducers If you do not see yours listed or need help just contact me. Mick.

MOUNTING THE HEAD UNITS

Mounting the Head Unit of your Fish Finder can be a challenge on your Jetski so we either use a custom-made Stainless Steel Mounting or a Ram Mounting. We also supply custom made Flexible Covers for all units to protect your Fish Finder in the surf zone and rough weather. They can be purchased here Jetski Clear Flexible Fish Finder Protective Covers

Remember as you add Marine Electronics, Pumps etc. it is extremely important that you add a Dual Battery setup to your Jetski. Here is the Jetski Dual Battery parts Link to Dual Battery Kits If you would like installation help or us to fit your Dual Battery give me a shout. WhatsApp Mick on 072 938 1769

If you need advice please contact us Cell / Whatsap Mick 072 938 1769 email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Codfathers Top 10 Tips to prevent loosing your Jetski Rods & Reels

Loosing a Fishing Rod and Reel is very unpleasant and very expensive. If you haven't done it yet on your Jetski you will, that is almost guaranteed. Its the nature of the environment. Wet, bumpy, rough conditions  and slippery hands are a recipe for disaster. Rod Holders coming loose or breaking are another example of how we may loose a Rod & Reel, and of course the classic. "I will just put it there for a second even though I shouldn't" scenario. The famous balancing your Rod & Reel on the edge of your Jetski knowing that you shouldn't as it could (and will) fall off into the deep blue abyss. You know what I mean! All the fore mentioned words are pretty much a guarantee that one day you will loose your pride and joy if you are not careful.

All of the above incidents usually happen while we are out at sea, and to be honest most could be classed as accidents and may have been out of our control and genuinely an accident. We can however take extra precautions and limit the chances of loosing our Rods & Reels whilst what I consider is the highest risk area and that is in the surf zone. So many times I have seen guys loose expensive tackle in the surf. A few times up to six Rods & Reels. Now that's a lot of cash! Loosing Rods & Reels can be easily prevented by fitting Rod Holder Elastic Hold Downs. This is a very simple system that you can either purchase from us or very easily make your own. Full details here Rod Holder Elastic Hold Downs   

Rod Holders are a great accessory and a must on any Fishing Jetski

Another sure way of loosing a Rod or two is to leave them lying around after you have finished fishing. There are so many things on your mind when you finish fishing your mind is constantly working and its so easy to lean a Rod & Reel up against a wall or another vehicle and simply drive off and forget about them. What I have found is a good idea is to make a Rod Holder for transporting and storing Rods & Reels and its also a great platform to keep your Rods & Reels together while cleaning and hosing them down after fishing. Here's how to make one Portable Rod & Tackle Holder 

Theft of course could be a problem and expensive Rods & Reels on view in a vehicle or left untended is an invitation for a thief to help themselves to your prized tackle collection. I would suggest keeping all Rods & Reels safely locked on your vehicle or hidden away in a Trailer Rod Holder like these Trailer Rod Holder

 Codfathers Top 10 tips to prevent loosing your Jetski rods & Reels

Tip #1 Always tie down your Rods & Reels in the surf zone and when travelling form reef to reef with a Rod Holder Elastic Hold Downs   

Tip #2 Always tie down your Rods & Reels in the surf zone and when travelling form reef to reef with a Rod Holder Elastic Hold Downs

Tip #3 Always use a Rod Leash when fishing

Tip #4 Use quality Rod Holders like a Scotty or a Railblaza. Budget Rod Holders are ok if you do not fish tight drags

Tip #5 Don't put your Rod down just for a second where it doesn't look safe!

Tip #6 Use a plastic BG type internally mounted Rod Holder when fishing deep lipped lures as they may break Scotty & Railblazas

Tip #7 When travelling store your Rods in your vehicle or in a purpose built Rod Carrying Box which fits on your Jetski Trailer.

Tip #8 Dont leave your Rods lying around or leaning against a car or a wall unattended where they can be easily stolen

Tip #9 When travelling with your Jetski on your trailer remove the Rods from your cages as they could catch on overhanging trees, fences, overhead wires, cables etc. Been there done that!

Tip #10 Finally make sure that you insure your tackle. Speak to the nice people at Club Marine as they specialise in Marine insurance. Club Marine Insurance

Tight Lines

Codfather

Couta Trace With Bait Swimmer Medium

Click on the pictures above to see the various colour options we have available to you. Our Jetski Fishing Traces are hand made by Jetski Fishing South Africa...We make Traces that produce the goods!!!!

The Jetski Fishing Couta Traces come in three sizes. Small, Medium, and Large.

These sizes represent the Baits intended for their use. Small is ideal for Small Mackerel, Small Sardines and Small Red Eyes. Medium is ideal for medium sized Mackerel and large Sardines and large Redeyes. Large Traces are ideal for large Mackerel and small Bonito. See special Bonito Traces.

All Jetski Fishing Traces come packaged in a clear packet. 

We also sell our in house manufactures Trace Wallets.

Couta Trace With Bait Swimmer Small

Click on the pictures above to see the various colour options we have available to you. Our Jetski Fishing Traces are hand made by Jetski Fishing South Africa...We make Traces that produce the goods!!!!

The Jetski Fishing Couta Traces come in three sizes. Small, Medium, and Large.

 These sizes represent the Baits intended for their use. Small is ideal for Small Mackerel, Small Sardines and Small Red Eyes. Large Traces are ideal for large Mackerel and small Bonito. See special Bonito Traces.

All Jetski Fishing Traces come packaged in a clear packet. 

We also sell our in house manufactures Trace Wallets.

Couta Trace With Bait Swimmer Small

Click on the pictures above to see the various colour options we have available to you. Our Jetski Fishing Traces are hand made by Jetski Fishing South Africa...We make Traces that produce the goods!!!!

The Jetski Fishing Couta Traces come in three sizes. Small, Medium, and Large.

 These sizes represent the Baits intended for their use. Small is ideal for Small Mackerel, Small Sardines and Small Red Eyes. Large Traces are ideal for large Mackerel and small Bonito. See special Bonito Traces.

All Jetski Fishing Traces come packaged in a clear packet. 

We also sell our in house manufactures Trace Wallets.

Emergency Food

If you are travelling to Mozambique you will require Emergency Food Cartons  as part of your Safety Kit. Its actually quite a good idea to keep the Emergency Water as part of your Safety Equipment in South Africa. If you do ever get stranded out at Sea at least you will have Food. We also sell Emergency Water Packs which are required in Mozambique.

FJC10 Manual Wire Winch Cable With Hook

Manual Winch Steel Cable with a Small Hook for Jetskis. NOTE We also manufacture Flexible Loops to stop the scratching associated with Winch Hooks. email us for details This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Go Fish Double Hook Beanie Hat

Go Fish Beanies to keep you warm this winter.

Go Fish Double Hook VZ Trucker Blue

Colours available Black and Black, Blue and White, Red and White

Go Fish Double Hook VZ Trucker RED

Colours available Black, Blue, White, Red 

Go Fish Revolution Badge Soft Trucker

RED

Soft Foam front. Cool mesh back. Perfect for on the water comfort and off water fishing fashion.

Colours available Red 

HAND WASHER BRUSH 300MM

This Wash Brush is ideal for cleaning your Jetski as it attaches to a hose pipe and can be used with Salt Away or Salt Assassin to clean your Jetski or Trailer. 

HAND WASHER BRUSH WITH SOAP DISPENSER 57 CM

 This extended handle Wash Brush is ideal for cleaning Jetskis and Trailers. With the included Salt Away dispenser this is a no brainer...Just get one!!!

Crazy Low price also!!!!!

Yamaha FX Latch Lid Lock Knob

Replaces the Knob Latch that breaks on the Glove Compartment Box on a Yamaha FX Waverunner Jetski. You must reuse the old pin.

Similar to OE Yamaha F1X628750000 

Similar to OE Yamaha F1X- 62875-00-00 

Fits Yamaha FX 2004 to 2012 not the new 2012 onwards shape. 

Jetski and Kayak Safety Pencil Flares

You will require these Pencil Flares for a CAT E vessel registered in South Africa. They are really usefullto add to a CAT D safety kit as you will have 10 shots to fire if ever you are in distress. 

• 1 pencil flare set is required for Category E
• Max  Height: 45m