As the striped bass spawn in the Miramichi River, watch Mike Adams as he investigates what lurks beneath. This is a unique spot because it is one of just two proven spawning grounds in the Maritimes, as well as a popular fishing spot. Spawning occurs in the spring when the water temperature is above 60°F, so keep an eye out for a “once in a lifetime” opportunity!
The striped bass (Morone saxatilis), commonly known as Atlantic striped bass, striper, linesider, rock, or rockfish, is an anadromous perciform fish found mostly along North America’s Atlantic coast. The striped bass fishery in North America has a long history dating back to the colonial era. Many documented reports by some of the first European settlers indicate vast swaths of striped bass, as well as alewives, moving up most rivers in the coastal Northeast and reproducing.
The body of the striped bass is sleek and silvery, with longitudinal dark stripes running from behind the gills to the base of the tail. 20–40 pounds (9–18 lb) is the average adult size. The heaviest specimen ever caught weighed 124 pounds (56 kg) and was caught in 1896. Striped bass can live for up to 30 years, according to legend. The average length is 20 to 35 inches (50–90 cm) and the average width is 5 to 20 inches.
Dive Report
“We were a group of three. Jamie and Quinn, my spotters, and I, the diver. I dove off the boat to a maximum depth of 9 feet. The water temperature was between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. The dive lasted around 45 minutes, but there were several breaks when we returned to the surface to narrate what we had seen”.
Mike Adams
About Mike Adams
Mike’s mission is to encourage more diving in the Maritime province of New Brunswick. He also makes historical videos in addition to diving videos. This year, he’ll be documenting aviation crashes in the province of New Brunswick. In this province alone, there are over 300 recorded accidents, and he has teamed up with the Canadian Aviation Historical Society to record the history and stories of the pilots who perished in some of these crashes. Mike has also partnered with the “Hammond River Angling Association” to create a series of videos for them about salmon and the protection of one of our local rivers, the Hammond River.
Mike’s summer 2021 adventures will be accompanied by The Scuba News Canada, which will cover his work in the coming months.