An Overview of the Smallmouth Bass in Nova Scotia

Abstract

Introduced to Nova Scotia waters in 1942, smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu have provided an alternative fishery to the more popular brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis in local areas. In recent years, angler interest in smallmouth bass has increased dramatically, and a modest tournament fishery has developed in addition to noncompetitive angling. Since 1971, illegal transfers and movements of fish within watersheds have been responsible for approximately doubling the distribution of this species over the past 15 years. Estimated annual catch and average catch per angler have increased 32-fold over the same time period. Population structure and length-at-age data from biological surveys in 1992 and 1993 indicated that growth was slower than in other northern waters. Observations of smallmouth bass nesting activity suggest that nest building and spawning commence when water temperature reaches 16–18°C, which typically occurs at the end of May or first week of June in Nova Scotia, and nest guarding is terminated by early July. Management practices focus on restricting the illegal introduction of smallmouth bass to new watersheds and sustaining a quality fishery where smallmouth bass are established.