The water was calm last Sunday morning as Samson and a friend trolled their usual spots between Toronto Island and the downtown waterfront. A layer of fog still covered the city’s towering skyline. With the CN Tower and other Toronto landmarks just a few hundred meters away, Sampson landed a big fish rarely seen in the big city. “It was definitely a shock and we knew we had caught a unicorn.” At first Samson thought he had a large pike, a species more common in the area. But as the fish, which was just over a meter long, emerged from the water, he took a closer look at its lighter colors and spots – features that are characteristic of the muskellunge, commonly known as a muskie. Samson with his great arrest. Muskies once thrived in the waters off Toronto. But the natural habitats were destroyed by urbanization. (Submitted by Will Sampson) “Then we both lost our minds,” Sampson said. “We actually caught one in downtown Toronto, you know. You look to your left and there’s four million people in apartment buildings and we’re down there with a 43-inch muskie in the net.” He wasn’t there long. After snapping a few photos, Sampson returned the fish to the water. He didn’t have the proper scales to weigh such a large muskie, but guessed it was just under 20 pounds, or about nine kilograms.
“Super unusual” fish: TRCA
It was definitely a first for Sampson, 31, an experienced angler and fishing guide with his family business Detour Fishing Charters. But it’s also a rare fishery for experts who keep a close eye on the species of fish that live in the waters around Canada’s largest city. “Catching a muskie in Toronto Harbor is extremely unusual,” said Rick Portis, senior director of aquatic monitoring and management at the Toronto District Conservation Authority. “We’ve never had one in sight in over 30 years of environmental monitoring on the Toronto waterfront,” he added. Portiss says muskie are more commonly found in other parts of Lake Ontario, such as near the St. Lawrence and in the Niagara region. Dating back to the 1800s, it was once a thriving species in the Toronto area. Portiss says that for two centuries, muskie habitat was destroyed as the city’s waterfront was urbanized.
Natural habitats are coming back
But in recent decades, through the efforts of governments and organizations like the TRCA, natural habitats in and around Toronto have been restored and the water quality of Lake Ontario has improved. Portiss says new wetlands are being created along with coastal parks that include naturalized areas. He believes Sunday’s appearance of a clean muskie just off the city’s shoreline is a sign that those efforts are paying off. “Finding a fish like this is a true sign of improving habitat and restoring activity on Toronto’s waterfront,” said Portiss. He says he thinks it could be the start of a positive trend and expects to see more muskies and other unusual fish like walleye in Toronto waters. Portiss says the massive renewal of Toronto’s Portlands and reshaping of the Don River includes the creation of fish and wildlife habitat. “When they build this enclosure, they don’t just stop at the infrastructure for people. They look at it holistically and build in the fish habitat and the wildlife components as well.”
