Harrison River Whites

[Striper Sniper]

Spring Fever and I would like to plan a trip this year aimed specifically at the Harrison River White run, for the purpose of filling a couple of smokers. I am a huge fan of smoked whites however, neither one of us are familiar with the run. Any info as to the best place to intercept them, time of year etc. will be greatly appreciated.

SS

 

[Aces]

West coast of the Island, like Ucluelet, Bamfield or Tofino in early August............they are thick then.

 

[vetteman]

West coast of the Island, like Ucluelet, Bamfield or Tofino in early August............they are thick then.

I love whites any which way. Last year I fished Ucluelet and the inside waters quite a bit however I didn't catch a single one. Had to make do with reds.
Dave

 

[FishBC.org]

West coast of the Island, like Ucluelet, Bamfield or Tofino in early August............they are thick then.

Also on the inside in Aug / Sept

 

[Aces]

I love whites any which way. Last year I fished Ucluelet and the inside waters quite a bit however I didn't catch a single one. Had to make do with reds.
Dave

They are offshore, on the hiway.

 

[FishBC.org]

They are offshore, on the hiway.

They also come through the inside. All my larger fish were white Harrison's between Aug 15th and Sept 15thish.

Most likely larger numbers outside though.

 

[Derby]

We were getting Chehalis & Chilliwack river whites on the inside of Barkley sound the first week of July this year ...nice fish to 28lbs...

 

[Striper Sniper]

I have caught the odd white slab at 7 mile off of Cape Beale, but only very rarely. The whites that i catch at the Kitty Coleman hump are mostly marbled or 50/50 white. We did get a couple nice ones at either Nootka or Winter Harbour last year, can't remember which.

SS

 

[vetteman]

They are offshore, on the hiway.

Caught a lot the year before. Never went more than 7 or 8 miles offshore. Caught a few inside as well. But last year was nothing but reds. Not even a marbled fish.
Dave

 

[Charter Tofino]

As said mid Aug- Sept offshore most seem to be whites.

 

[Hindsight]

Port Renfrew

Last year we saw lots of Whites in fact some days all fish were White's from late June till end Aug. We do get them at the Hatchery here also.

 

[searun]

Big time off shore Bamfield/Ucluelet/Barkley Sound. They move around year to year but we generally find them holding off shore between Ucluelet and Bamfield. Each year they shift depending on where the bait is...and they can be HOGS. I know a lot of anglers only want reds, but I will take a white ANY DAY. Yummy smoked or on the BBQ.

 

[hooktender68]

I always thought that a red over white hands down any day, man was I wrong! They are wicked good fresh on the BBQ. I concur with the offshore mid Aug off essperanza. Its handy to be in communication with lots of other boats that are out there daily, once you hit some the tend to hang in a spot for awhile. One place I have found that they have frequented over the past3-4 years is Bajo reef. When I hear of the odd white being picked up there the hair on the back of my neck stands up, because I find they roll into to there for a decent little vist and they are definately larger in size big time and they fight way differently than reds, totally psycho!

 

[eaglemaniac]

Must agree with you on that hooktender. They are tough. Kitty Coleman has a good run as mentioned earlier. They are considered a delicacy in some fancy New York restaurants. I just love them smoked for sure. eman

 

[Bod]

The only place you could go and catch a Harrison River White Spring would be in the Harrison River itself. White springs return to alot of rivers. One of the first we encounter on the WCVI would be Pitt River summer runs and then followed by Harrison & Chilliwack fall runs. Whites occur all over the west coast from California to Alaska.
Around the end of July, right through August we catch them off Bamfield and when you are on them they can be big, and a blast. Sometimes they are not very far offshore.
As for eatting they are the same as any other spring when ocean caught, and they just have a bad rap because of the brain washed folks that think Salmon should be red.
Tight Lines

 

[profisher]

Harrison Whites show up here in Sooke in late August and run well into September. I did catch a 45lb HRW on Oct 5th one year and have taken a couple of 38's in the last week of September as well. I believe the largest Sooke spring in recent times (67.12 pounds) was a HRW taken on September 29th at the Trap.

 

[searun]

Roger that on the psycho factor...they are nuts. Funny how no matter where you fish on the outside these hogs like to find a sweet spot and hang. Like you say the trick is to find em, and once you do let the good times roll for a few weeks.

 

[profisher]

Went through my September pics to find a classic HRW from Sooke. This one was 38 pounds and was taken on Sept 22/05. They are not long fish, thick, big head and a smallish eye set far back in the head from the mouth.

 

[profisher]

I just noticed something in the pic above. The small yellow bucket on the left is full of freshly caught larger herring. Obviously got into a ball up that day as well.

 

[Fish Assassin]

SS I will gladly deliver you any fresh white I get this year. As long as at some time you bring me a red. I hate whites.