HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA
Although
Haligonians can catch mackerel, pollock and cod from shore in
places such as Point Pleasant Park, serious anglers will get
afloat. On a sunny day last August, I headed out with charter
captain Mike Wright to see if we could hunt up some pollock
or cod in the outer harbour on the Dartmouth side. The catching
was slow, but as we rounded the end of McNabs Island, we found
lots of activity on the Halifax side, with some folks even casting
from shore. A large school of mackerel was the target. Wright
positioned the boat to take our turn in the line of boats drifting
parallel to shore, and we soon began sharing in the bounty.
While Halifax proper is largely surrounded by sea water, mainland
Dartmouth is blessed with several lakes and ponds. The local
trout fishing is mostly for stocked fish, but the smallmouth
bass fisheries are self-sustaining and well populated. A recent
excursion to Lake Micmac—where my fishing buddy and I
had a half-dozen takes in 15 minutes, all tight to the edge
of a busy road—proved just that.
 |
| Go
‘bow hunting: Trout action on Albro Lake |
| FISHING
FACT |
|
Tropical species are beginning to appear more frequently
in the Halifax Harbour area, and in 2006, an angler
hooked a 1,000-pound ocean sunfish. |
| ANGLER
ATTRACTION |
Fanatic
angler Don Webster
owns The Fireside restaurant, located not far from
the harbour, and has chosen an appropriately piscatorial
decor. Contact: (902) 423-5995. |
|
67 Lake Micmac
A high-harvest smallmouth fishery runs from April to December,
and there’s a small population of brookies. Toss a Scum
Frog into Red Bridge Pond—across the street from Micmac’s
boat ramp—for a chance at big bass.
68 Albro Lake
Albro is stocked with rainbows in both spring and fall. Much
of the shoreline is accessible from a walking path, or you can
access the beach via Sea King Drive. Try corn, size 2/0 Colorado-blade
spinners or small, black flies.
69 Halifax Harbour
Throughout late summer and fall, mackerel feed in large schools
along the outer harbour shoreline. Trolling spoons or spinners,
or jigging a mackerel rig while drifting parallel to shore works
best. |
