WITH multiple sardines shoals beaching along KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast this past week, skilled seine netter Leonard “Lenny”, Pillay, 70, is hardly like a fish out of water, its an eagerly anticipated time of year for him.
For over 50 years, Pillay has been casting nets along the shores in and around Durban, bagging the popular annual fish phenomenon, as part of the region’s fishing culture.
The first batch of sardines landed on the lower South Coast at Port Edward on Saturday and more shoals were reported, up the coastline, heading towards Durban, in places like Port Shepstone, Pennington, Warner Beach, Winkelspruit and Amanzimtoti by mid-week.
Once and again Pillay and his crew, which usually about 12, including divers, are ready for anticipated sardines splashes at beaches closer to Durban…