With Two Weeks to Go, Big Al and 50 Other Prize Fish Worth a Total of $87,500 Remain in Lakes Hamilton, Catherine In 2023 $100,000 Hot Springs Fishing Challenge
HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, Arkansas — With two weeks remaining in the 2023 $100,000 Hot Springs Fishing Challenge, Big Al, a fish worth $20,000, has managed to elude all those seeking to land him.
“We have 51 tagged fish worth a total of $87,500 in prizes remaining uncaught in this year’s Challenge,” Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison said today [JULY 17]. “That includes the top-prize fish, which we always call Big Al in a nod to Hot Springs’ infamous visitor, Al Capone, who vacationed in the city in the 1920s.”
“At last count, 15 tagged fish worth $12,500 had been caught since the 2023 Challenge began May 2,” Arrison said. “Anglers have until 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 31, to catch the remaining prize fish.”
Arrison said Big Al could be a largemouth bass, a bluegill, a redear sunfish or a channel catfish.
A total of 66 tagged fish were released into Lakes Hamilton and Catherine on May 1 by members of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Andrew Hulsey Fish Hatchery on Lake Hamilton.
At last count 51 prize fish remain to be caught:
1 fish — $20,000
1 fish — $10,000
4 fish — $5,000
30 fish —$1,000
15 fish —$500
The last time the Challenge was held — in 2019 — 71 fish were tagged and released, with 24 of them being caught. Prize money handed out that year totaled $24,500, Arrison said.
“Hot Springs residents and visitors coming to Hot Springs from throughout the nation have told us this is their favorite time of year,” Arrison said. “Many people have told us they had an exciting time on the lakes trying to land one of the prize fish, even if they haven’t yet hit the cash jackpot.”
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.