Bonus Fish Added to $100,000 Hot Springs Fishing Challenge During ‘Free Fishing Weekend’ June 9 – 11
HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, Arkansas — Catch one of the $500 prize fish this weekend in the 2023 $100,000 Hot Springs Fishing Challenge and your prize will be doubled to $1,000.
“June 9 – 11 is Free Fishing Weekend throughout Arkansas, and we here in Hot Springs help celebrate by doubling the prize money on the $500 prize fish in the Fishing Challenge,” Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison said. “At last count there were 16 of the $500 prize fish remaining in Lake Hamilton and Lake Catherine, so if you catch one of those we’ll double the prize this weekend.
“Of course, there are also 36 other tagged prize fish in the lakes, with prize amounts ranging from $1,000 to the top prize of $20,000 for anyone who reels in Big Al, the top-prize fish we have had in every one of the Fishing Challenges. Big Al might be a largemouth bass, or he might be a channel catfish or a bluegill or a redear sunfish. You never know what Big Al is until somebody catches him and phones in the tag number.”
This weekend, starting at noon Friday and running through midnight Sunday, is designated statewide as Free Fishing Weekend. During Free Fishing Weekend, fishing in all Arkansas waters is open to everyone in Arkansas and visitors from out of state, and the requirement that participants have a valid Arkansas fishing license is waived.
Thus far, 12 prize fish have been caught since the 2023 Challenge began May 2 at 6 a.m. after 66 prize fish were tagged and released May 1 into Lakes Hamilton and Catherine. Staff from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Andrew Hulsey Fish Hatchery tagged the 66 prize fish and released them.
Forty-four tagged fish were placed in Lake Hamilton and 22 were released in Lake Catherine.
The 2023 Fishing Challenge will run until July 31 at 5 p.m.
The tagged fish are largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, and channel catfish.
Fifty-four prize fish remain to be caught:
1 fish — $20,000
1 fish — $10,000
4 fish — $5,000
32 fish —$1,000
16 fish —$500
The Fine Print
The Hot Springs Fishing Challenge begins at 6 a.m. May 2, 2023, and ends on July 31, 2023, at 5 p.m. Central Time. The Challenge provides anglers the opportunity to catch tagged fish that can be redeemed for cash prizes.
Eligibility: The contest is open to anyone with a valid Arkansas fishing license. (This requirement is waived the weekend of June 10 – 11.) Employees of the Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission at the Andrew H. Hulsey Fish Hatchery, and their immediate family members, and/or those living in the same household of each are ineligible to win a cash prize.
How It Works: Sixty-six tagged fish (total) were released in Lake Hamilton and Lake Catherine. The fish released will be largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, and channel catfish. The tags will have a phone number and a prize number on them. If a fish is caught the angler must call the number and present the fish with the tag attached.
No cash prize will be awarded to any participant presenting a tagged fish that has been caught other than during the fishing period. Tags must be presented during the fishing period to be redeemed. All tagged fish must be caught in accordance with all state and local laws, codes, rules and regulations. Rules and regulations can be found at:
http://www.agfc.com/fishing/Pages/FishingRegulations.aspx
No cash prizes will be awarded to any participant who does not comply with state and local laws, codes, rules and regulations.
Publicity Release: Each angler who catches a prize fish grants Visit Hot Springs the rights to use their name, likeness, biographical information, and photographs, without compensation, in any and all media without limitation for advertising and promotional purposes.
General Prize Conditions: Prize winners shall be solely responsible for all federal, state and/or local taxes associated with their prize.
Prize Distribution: The tagged fish will each be assigned a number. Prize money will be divided as follows:
1 fish — $20,000
1 fish — $10,000
4 fish — $5,000
40 fish —$1,000
20 fish —$500
Total possible prize money if all fish are caught during the contest period is $100,000.
For additional information call Steve Arrison at 501-321-2027.