Here’s something you don’t see everyday.

Lots of traffic and lots of people at the Canso Causeway yesterday checking out the annual Atlantic Saury run. There was a great deal to see: a humpback whale, a thresher shark, dolphins, many many bald eagles, gulls, and cormorants. I personally did not see the leather-backed turtle. This is just a smattering of those on the Cape Breton side adjacent to the bridge. Hundreds were on the other side near the causeway approach where the light was better for seeing things. I did personally like the light in this shot though. When Connie and I left late yesterday the open spot by the weigh station was packed and many cars were blocked in by late arrivals.  Al Eastman

I was aware of the Atlantic saury run up at the Canso Causeway but I didn’t know it was this dramatic. Thresher sharks clearing the water never entered my mind. I would never have guessed they were anywhere near here or that you could see them from shore. Threshers are a game fish and a favorite shark of mine but you never hear about them.  A fantastic creature.

A few years ago I saw the above meme and sent it around to friends. I have crossed the causeway many times over the years but never in really hairy conditions. Apparently, it can get pretty crazy. I wonder what it was like  during the Fiona storm. It would have been way worse than the above and shut down I would think.

I came across the Causeway in similar conditions once.  Tractor trailer behind me pulled in to Irving Big Stop and he hollered at me….”Come look, there’s a fish caught under my wiper blade”….and there was, one of the long skinny ones.

One of my friends mentioned he had seen a pretty rough crossing above.

“One of the long skinny ones,” would be a saury which is sometimes called a needlefish. I think they are the inspiration for the iconic striped bass lure called a needlefish. It is a straight stick with no action of its own and everyone that first sees it can’t believe it catches anything. It does, though, big time. I used them for a couple of years in MA for bass and they were great. They are a kind of cult lure with people making their own like some people tie their own flies.

*update

An extra pic showing scale.

As usual, open in new tabs to embiggen.