Latest news with #TheNorthCoastCourier
The Citizen
16 hours ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
#FishEagle: Shad frenzy grips South Coast, one angler caught with 80 fish
South Coast anglers are reeling in shad at a furious pace, with only empty bait buckets and sleep slowing the action during this year's shad run. Some big fish typically caught offshore have also been hooked by surf anglers among the tail end of the sardines, adding another bonus to what has been a fantastic season. Over the past few weeks, some sizeable musselcracker, snoek and a few barracouta have been landed, along with a big yellowbelly rockcod and even a yellowfin tuna for two lucky surf anglers. Sardines were still pulled in at Umzumbe and Mnini last week, but most remaining shoals recently sighted were offshore and out of range of netters. Among the sardine shoals, there have been plenty of baitfish – including mackerel and maasbanker – common towards the end of the sardine run. Shad running wild Despite the variety, much of the angling chatter on the South Coast has turned to shad where the action has been relentless. There is an unfortunate side effect to these conditions and some anglers are showing a total disregard for size and catch limits, including one who was found with eighty shad. South Coast residents are also starting to complain about the mess being left behind. Locals have begun to dread the onset of the shad season as crowds stream in, which occasionally become an unruly mob. When shad are running, some anglers seem to grow horns and angling turns to tangling, with abusive language and threats of violence common. Closer to home, some shad have been pulled in at first light, but nothing like the South Coast returns. Anglers fishing the rocky gullies have fared better, with karranteen and some sizeable blacktail providing great sport. The karranteen are ideal for use as live bait and they have been used to catch big daga salmon at Port Shepstone. Garrick also feed on karranteen and the signs are there for another good season, particularly at the popular Durban North beaches. Stumpies, a few grey sharks and a rare grunter caught on a sealice bait were all also recently hooked at Durban North. Most surf anglers from Durban and further north are waiting for the shad to arrive in big numbers however. Looking forward, the water temperature of 21°C is perfect for the much sought after brusher, which should appear locally once the surf settles. Anglers fishing their favourite rocky areas could also find copper bream back on the bite soon. Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Health
- The Citizen
#TheSomedayShift: From ‘I can't' to canyon conqueror
Welcome to The Someday Shift – a space where we celebrate everyday people who stopped waiting and started doing. Convincing people to try something they never thought possible is one of my superpowers and these are their stories. Two years ago, I received a call from a fast-talking, very nervous woman. 'Hello,' she blurted out. 'I want to join your programme, but I'm unfit, carrying more weight than I'd like (who isn't, I thought to myself), and I can't even walk around the block.' I listened and simply replied, 'Come and try. You'll be fine.' I reassured her she would be safe. It's important to create spaces where people can show up, even when they don't feel like they belong in an active setting. They may look different or not fit a mould and that is okay. That woman was Nicola Smuts, and she recently crossed the finish line of Kruger2Canyon, a multi-day trail event through some of South Africa's most breathtaking and demanding terrain. The race spans the northern Drakensberg, the Blyde River Canyon and bushveld near Kruger National Park. But Nicola's journey didn't start with a grand goal. It began with one brave decision: To move, to try, to step outside her comfort zone. She pitched up and kept pitching up. From struggling to walk around the block to completing her first 5km, then 10km. Her family began to notice the change. Nicola wasn't dabbling in a fad, she was creating a new normal. She wasn't sure where it would all lead, only that she needed change. With support from the Ordinarily Active community, consistent effort and a quiet shift in mindset, transformation followed. 'I never saw myself as that person,' Nicola reflected. 'But over time, I hesitantly started to believe I could be.' That's what living life actively is about. Not being the fittest or fastest, but showing up, especially when it feels hard. It's about becoming the kind of person who does things they once thought impossible. It's about contributing and inspiring others along the way. Was Kruger2Canyon hard? Absolutely. Did she doubt herself? Yes. Was it worth it? A resounding YES. So if you have been waiting for a sign – this is it. Start walking. Start moving. Start believing. Because what if 'someday' became today? Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
#Musings: Are headlights becoming too bright?
In amongst all the chatter about streetlights, I can't help but feel there is another increasingly dangerous lighting situation hitting our roads. When driving between Tongaat and Ballito along the R102 recently, I found myself almost blinded by an electric blue LED laser beam shot through my back window. The interior of my car was so bright that I had to pinch my arm just to check I hadn't lost focus and inadvertently landed at the pearly gates. After gathering myself and squinting to see the cause, I saw five letters that made my heart sink. GP SUV. Naturally, as a KZN native, I muttered under my breath, cursed the Joburger in his oversized car who thought he was still driving down Jan Smuts with his brights on and planned to move on with my evening. But after the driver eventually overtook me after camping on my tail for five minutes, I was astonished to see the halo of his headlights increase tenfold. He hadn't had his brights on after all. It begs the question, are headlights becoming too bright? After a bit of research, it turns out I'm not alone in feeling personally selected for spotlight torture. Two key shifts in automotive engineering and consumer trends seem to be to blame. Firstly, almost all new cars are fitted with LED headlights, which emit a white-blue hue, rather than the softer white-yellow colours of halogen headlights that were formerly the standard. According to American lighting scientist John Bullough, quoted in Vox, light intensity – typically measured in lumens or candelas – does not take into account how different colours impact the eye. That means a given LED headlight might measure at the same intensity as a halogen option, but our eyes perceive the LED as brighter because it is more likely to also be picked up by our peripheral vision. Secondly, bigger cars are becoming more popular, particularly in affluent areas. If you drive through Salt Rock or Sheffield now, you will no doubt recognise the parade of Range Rovers, Land Cruisers, Hiluxes and every other model of SUV or bakkie you can imagine. When was the last time you saw a real beat-up skadonk rolling around the suburbs? Combine the height of a large vehicle's headlights with the enhanced perceived brightness, and if you're in a hatchback or sedan, you've got your own private blue-light brigade following you. This is likely the new normal, with car manufacturers incentivised to include LED headlights for improved safety ratings. So, if you're behind the wheel of one of these monster machines, do the decent thing and give the smaller car in front a fair following distance so as not to burn their retinas. Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
One-legged man steals cop car from Umhlali Saps
In a plot twist that could make Fast & Furious look sluggish, a 60-year-old Umhlali resident with one leg was arrested today after allegedly boosting a police vehicle from right under the noses of the cops. Yes, you read that correctly – a man with a single leg reportedly outpaced a station full of officers and drove off in a patrol car from Umhlali Saps premises on Saturday morning. According to police spokesperson Priya Nunkumar-Bukum, the stolen ride was tracked down in Ballito thanks to swift teamwork between Umhlali Police and E2 partners. 'The vehicle was recovered and the suspect was arrested by police,' Nunkumar-Bukum confirmed. The suspect now faces a charge of theft of a motor vehicle – and possibly one for audacity. As for how exactly a one-legged man managed to hotwire, enter and escape in a police vehicle without anyone noticing? That's the million-rand question. Police say the matter is under investigation and we suspect someone is in for a rather awkward debriefing. Let this be a reminder: never underestimate a man with a plan – and a prosthetic. Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below.
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Curro Salt Rock tennis sensation powers to tournament titles
Curro Salt Rock tennis sensation, Jack Thornhill, served up a spectacular performance over the school holidays, clinching two provincial titles. Thornhill (15) claimed his first Super 8 title at the KZN American Express tournament, held at Westridge Tennis Stadium in Durban from July 2 to 6. He also finished runner-up in the doubles category, demonstrating his versatility on the court. Not stopping there, the following day the Grade 9 pupil travelled to Johannesburg for the Gauteng Central Super 8 American Express tournament (July 8 to 12), where he won both the singles and doubles titles. Jack's passion for the sport was ignited early and he began playing as soon as he could hold a racquet. His father Philip and younger brother Ryan also hold KZN tennis colours. 'Tennis has always been part of my life,' he said. 'There's a rule in our family that you have to play tennis until you turn 10. I played other sports, but now I focus only on tennis.' Jack's favourite player is Roger Federer, whom he admires for his grace and composure. 'I loved the way he played and carried himself on the court. He was always very calm.' With more than 25 titles to his name and a fierce competitive spirit, the teenager is undoubtedly one to watch. An injury setback earlier this year saw him drop in the national rankings, but he has bounced back with grit and determination. 'It's tough. I was out for half the season and missed out on vital rankings points. I was nervous coming back because my level might have dropped,' said Jack. The comeback has been remarkable. His recent victories have propelled him to 5th in South Africa in the U15 rankings and 13th in the U16 category. Jack plays for Curro's 1st team and has represented South Africa for the past two years. He credits his success to hard work and steely determination. 'Everyone at these tournaments is a high-calibre player, but I was confident I could win because I have been training hard.' 'I only focus on competing and trying to play at a high level. I don't dwell on recent successes either. I just get up, train and focus on the next match.' Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below.
