Fishing

Salmon Fishing

As you angle your flyrod along the edge of the current at the Big McDaniel Pool along the Margaree River, a few miles from the Mac Leod Complexes your Abe Munn Killer fly and your skill and a bit of luck dictate the catch of the most acrobatic of all sports fish - the king salmon. The Margaree River, from its estuary to its flowing into the Atlantic boasts world renowned fishermen and catches. Over the years competent salmon outfitters have established their presence in the area and you will find them knowledgeable, friendly and eager to have you enjoy the experience of fishing the Margaree. The normal catch in the Margaree River ranges from 6 to 35 pounds with an average catch being 15 pounds. Salmo Salar's closest relative is the brown trout or Salmo Trutta, caught in the Bras d'or Lakes. On average, an adult Atlantic Salmon will weigh 2-10kg and measure 50-100cm in length, but some have grown to a remarkable size. A record 38kg fish was netted in Ireland in 1882, while a fish weighing 36kg was taken in Norway in 1928. The Margaree River is in the process of being named a Heritage River that will guarantee its vitality and protect its resource. There is no better place to be than on the banks of this pristine river enjoying fresh air, the friendship of fishermen and the excitement of the catch on a sunny, warm day. Salmo salar Coloring: brown, green or blue on top; silvery on sides, and silvery white below. Common Names: Kennebec salmon, sebago, sebago salmon, grilse, kelt Found in Lakes: Bras D'Or, Margaree, St.Mary's River The Atlantic salmon has been honored throughout history. The Gauls and Romans prized its many qualities, and Britain's Magna Charta even granted it rights of protection. Despite its venerable past, this valuable sport and commercial fish has been overfished, and its breeding lakes polluted. From 8,000 eggs the female salmon lays-4,500 survive alevin stage while 650 survive fry stage of development, 200 to parr, 50 to smolts and 2 spawning adults are the result. Besides humans, the ocean predators of the salmon are cormorants, seals, lamprey's, sharks, cod, osprey's, tern's, gull's and eels. Fresh water predators include Kingfisher's, Merganser's Heron's and Otter's. Though most Atlantic salmon spawn in fresh water and then spend some of their life in the ocean, they return to the streams of their birth to spawn. It is during this trek to their home pools when the salmon are vulnerable. Though Atlantic salmon may spawn two or three times during their lives, self-propagating stocks have not yet developed. But fisheries scientists still hope that some experimental strain of Atlantic salmon will be found that has the genetic makeup to survive and reproduce in order to increase in numbers and the odds of their survival in the streams and oceans. As a result of declining stocks and international conservation methods, the reported world catch of Atlantic salmon ( recreational and commercial combined ) declined from 1980 to 1994 by more than half. Anglers still successfully cast for salmon in the waters of Canada, England, Wales, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, the U.S. and Russia. Enjoy the fishing and you are encouraged to practice catch and release in order to perpetuate the stock of Margaree salmon so a future generation can enjoy the lure of the river and the rush of landing the king of sports fish- the Atlantic Salmon.