Brown Bullhead – Catfish

A common catch at Marie Curtis Park, catfish provide great year-round fishing. They are as abundant as carp throughout the park and are located south of the bridge to the river mouth. Anglers boast the most success using jigs with night crawlers along the bottom of the water. Heavy weights should also be used to try and keep the bait in the same spot. Catfish should be removed with pliers as they often swallow the hook.

Carp

Carp action has excellent carp fishing throughout the majority of the year. When the weather is nice, the shoreline fills with anglers in search of carp. The shore of the Etobicoke River is mostly smooth along the side allowing for lawn chairs. Carp have the most luck using sweet corn along the bottom of the river. Cast in the middle with weights added as sometimes the current can be strong at Marie Curtis Park. Leave the bait on the bottom and wait ten minutes. If no bite after ten minutes add new corn and cast in a different location. Carp feed off the bottom and are very sensitive to movement, which is why patience is key when carp fishing. Carp at Marie Curtis Park approaches fifteen pounds and can be caught all year long. Carp have very sensitive mouths which can be easily torn. So using a lot of drag and a net when landing is strongly suggested.

Northern Pike

Pike can be caught occasionally around the mouth of the Etobicoke River. Pike stay close to the mouth of Etobicoke River, to catch fish trying to go out to Lake Ontario. Pike are fairly small here, however, they have reached up to twenty-four inches in length. Casting with spoons, minnow baits, and crankbaits in the early morning is ideal. Pike can often be seen at the mouth of Lake Ontario jumping above the water while attacking prey during the early morning.

Smallmouth Bass

Sunfish

Sunfish find their way into the mouth of the Etobicoke River and are mainly located from the mouth to the first bridge. Sunfish can be caught on worms with smaller hooks as they have small mouths. When casting use a float to keep the bait off the bottom. Sunfish will stay close to the shoreline to avoid the predators in the area such as pike and bass.