Attractions for Angling Families in the Canadian Maritimes- Part 2

Attractions for Angling Families in the Canadian Maritimes- Part 2

By

Jan Stephen Maizler


As our Peggy’s Cove experience came to an end, Deanna headed back to the city for our next destination. As our sojourn took us through multi-colored forests set off by striking coves, bays, and lakes, Deanna told us more about the people and fishing of Halifax and its surrounds.

Halifax boasts a population of over 300,000 and its people are called Haligonians. A large number of these people are employed in some water-based enterprise since Halifax has one of the largest ports in the hemisphere.

The major fishing operations out of Halifax are seasonal commercial harvesting of herring and lobster- this is generally done offshore. Regarding sport fishing out of the harbor, there are some party boats that take out customers during the summer for bottom fishing as well as jigging for mackerel.

The inland fisheries north of Halifax offer fly and light tackle sport fishing for salmon, trout, and smallmouth bass. On the most northern fringes of Nova Scotia, there is excellent ocean sport fishing for bluefin tuna and swordfish.

In the Nova Scotia countryside there are numerous bed and breakfasts. The most common recreational activities are trekking, cycling, horseback riding, kayaking, and sailing. The outside orientation of these offerings makes them especially desirable and appropriate for anglers and their families. There are numerous four-star restaurants that offer just the right cuisine choices to fuel or top off a day in the outdoors.

In what seemed in no time at all, we were climbing a hill in which the expansive Halifax Citadel came into view (www.pc.gc.ca/ - National Historic Sites). After parking, we were joined at the entrance by a 78th Highlander who gave us a thorough tour and history of this fascinating structure. We also heard a live performance of the bagpipes, saw the noon cannon firing ceremony, and enjoyed a delightful lunch with the same 78th Highlander. The Halifax Citadel is a must-see attraction in this wonderful city.

Our next step was a tour of the Halifax waterfront. What made this an especially exciting prospect was that this would be done on the land and water via the amphibious Harbour Hopper (www.harbourhopper.com/ ). After we boarded this impressive car-vessel, we received some safety and comfort tips. After touring downtown Halifax, we headed towards the harbor. After turning a corner, we eased down a launch ramp into the water and embarked on a pleasant tour with striking views.

The last attraction of our day in Halifax was Pier 21 (www.pier21.ca/ ), which is Canada’s Ellis Island. Stefani Angelopoulos, the Communications Manager of Pier 21, made this experience unforgettable. After we toured the museum, we attended the multi-media film and video presentation. This was extremely moving and a dry eye was a rarity in my group.

Pier 21 chronicles Canada’s humane open-arms approach to the people of our planet. Pier 21 and indeed, my entire time in the Canadian Maritimes emphasized again and again why America is lucky to have Canada as its northern neighbor.