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The 5,232 square mile Miramichi watershed drains about one-third of New Brunswick. The Miramichi contains 37 large tributary rivers. The tributaries vary in size and geomorphic character including the smooth flowing pool and riffle waters of the Cains River to class III white waters present in the Northwest Miramichi River. Most tributary basins are uninhabited and many can only be conveniently accessed by canoe. Fortunately, a few locations on most rivers can be accessed by logging roads within a one-hour drive from Doaktown.
Visit W.W.Doak, to get up to date water conditions and angling success for several Miramichi Rivers. Approximately one-third of the Miramichi’s returning salmon are known as “large” salmon, weighing 8 to 12 pounds. Smaller salmon, weighing 3 to 5 pounds are know as grilse. Atlantic salmon migrate up river in June throughout October. They spawn in late October and early November. The female salmon excavates a six to twelve inch deep pit with her tails in the river gravel. She then deposits her eggs which are simultaneously fertilized by one or more accompanying males, as they settle in the nest pit. The female then buries the fertilized eggs with gravel, where they incubate for five to six months. Hatching the following April, the fingerlings eventually swim out of the gravel in May and begin feeding on small aquatic insects. Salmon
fingerlings grow into “small parr” by September
and remain in the river for two or three years during
which time they transform into Once in the ocean, smolts grow rapidly in the waters of the Labrador Sea, achieving weights of three to five pounds in one year. Those fish that return to the Miramichi to spawn after one year at sea, are called grilse; about 70% are mature males. But some fish prefer to remain in ocean waters a second year, growing up to 12 pounds. These large salmon are about 70% female and are primarily responsible for propagating future Atlantic salmon generations. For this reason, all large salmon have been released by anglers in New Brunswick rivers since 1984. Unlike Pacific salmon that die after spawning, Atlantic salmon survive over winter in the rivers systems and provide an exciting spring salmon fishery in April and early May. An angler may catch 10 to 20 fish each day! Most of the fish caught are released, where after they return to ocean waters to feed for one or two years. When these same fish return, they are often trophy sized fish, weighing 20, 30, 40 or more pounds. The largest Atlantic salmon ever caught on a fly was taken from New Brunswick's Restigouche River, June 23, 1990. It weighed in at 72 pounds, and measured 68.5" in length and 29" girth. Each Miramichi tributary has its own unique genetic stock of Atlantic salmon. Some of the larger rivers have several stocks. To the angler, this provides a smorgasbord of opportunities since different stocks often exhibit different migration timing from June through October. Throughout the angling season, there is always a river offering a reasonable chance of catching a salmon. Fishing Online / Fishing Links
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The “king of sport fish”
thrives in New Brunswick’s Miramichi River system,
the world’s largest producer of Atlantic salmon. The
Miramichi watershed produced 40,000 to 190,000 Atlantic
salmon annually since 1992. The great fluctuation in fish
numbers is likely the variation in ocean environmental
and/or ocean predator conditions. The Miramichi has the
capacity to produce 300,000 to 400,000 Atlantic salmon
annually. For the latest scientific information, visit
the 
smolts.
Smolts then migrate from Miramichi rivers to the Atlantic
Ocean in May and June.
