Video shows sea ‘bubbling’ at St Leonards as mackerel force whitebait fish on to beach

Name: Mackerel chasing Whitebait/Sprats onto a St Leonards beach Sept 19 2021
Uploaded: 2021-09-19T14:18:00.000Z
Duration: 97 s
Description: This phone footage was captured at 12.30 on Sunday, Sept 19 in St Leonards.

This video shows whitebait leaping from the water in a bid to escape mackerel hunting for food.

By Michael Mackenzie

Published 20th Sep 2021, 09:42 BST

Updated 21st Sep 2021, 08:59 BST

Watch more of our videos on Shots!
and live on Freeview channel 276

The footage was taken at 12.30pm on Sunday (September 19) opposite the Azur in St Leonards.

Some people scooped up the fish to take home to eat while others said the water was ‘bubbling’ with the frenzied movements of the fish.

There were similar scenes in Eastbourne last week when hundreds of the small fish were found on the beach near Western Lawns.

Gulls circle as mackerel herd whitebait onto the beach at St Leonards

An Environment Agency spokesman said its fisheries team had investigated and added: “They believe that it has been caused by mackerel herding whitebait for food. The whitebait ended up on the beach in an attempt to escape the mackerel”.

See video of Hastings Seafood and Wine Festival’s return

St Leonards Eastbourne Environment Agency Hastings