Anglers of all ages will have the opportunity to land a fish that could be worth $20,000 starting May 1 as the Hot Springs Fishing Challenge returns for its 10th year.
With a total of $110,000 in prizes, including $20,000 for reeling in Big Al, fishing on lakes Hamilton and Catherine will pay off for lucky anglers.
"It's always been a real showcase for the great fishing we have in our four area lakes," Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison said in a news release. "While Big Al has eluded even the most skilled anglers every year except one, we've always had a great deal of fun with out-of-state visitors and residents alike."
Big Al, the grand prize fish named after gangster Al Capone who once frequented the Spa City, has evaded anglers for all but one year, when Pete Clark landed the elusive fish.
A total of 66 prize fish will be tagged at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Andrew H. Hulsey Fish Hatchery with 20 fish worth $500 each, 40 worth $1,000 each, four $5,000 fish and one $10,000 fish joining Big Al. The 20 fish with a $500 prize tag will double to $1,000 during the free fishing weekend June 7-9.
"We're expecting more anglers to have big fun looking to land Big Al or one of the other 65 prize fish that will be tagged and released into Hamilton and Catherine by our partners at the Game and Fish Commission's Andrew Hulsey Hatchery," Arrison said. "The fun will begin at 6 a.m. May 1 and end on July 31 at 5 p.m."
The free fishing weekend, which runs from noon June 7 through midnight on June 9, allows the public to fish without a license or trout stamp. The annual event dates back to 1978.
Tagged fish for the three-month challenge will include largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and channel catfish, and each fish will have a tag with a phone number for anglers to call and a prize number. Anglers should not remove the tag before calling the Visit Hot Springs Fish Phone.
Employees of the Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission, the Andrew H. Hulsey Fish Hatchery, their immediate family members and anyone living in the same household are ineligible for prizes, the release said.
Tagged fish caught outside the fishing period are not eligible for prizes, and all tagged fish "must be caught in accordance with all state and local laws, codes, rules and regulations," the release said. AGFC rules and regulations can be found at:
https://bit.ly/49rcYxn
A total of 15 of the 66 tagged fish were caught as part of last year's challenge, the first year the event returned following a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year's anglers collected $12,500 in prizes, while the 2019 event had 24 of 71 fish caught for $24,500.