![](https://theonefeather.com/library/uploads/2023/03/Fisherwoman-scaled-e1680040958539.jpg)
Anglers came out in droves on the weekend of March 25-26 for the annual $20,000 Cherokee Opening Day Tagged Fish Tournament in Cherokee, N.C. (SCOTT MCKIE B.P./One Feather photo)
Anglers came out in droves on the weekend of March 25-26 for the annual $20,000 Cherokee Opening Day Tagged Fish Tournament in Cherokee, N.C. Over the course of two days, the EBCI Fisheries & Wildlife Department distributed at total of $12,125 in cash prizes to 114 anglers who turned in fish tags. Registration for this year’s tournament topped 1,590, just shy of the 2019 record of 1,666.
EBCI Fisheries & Wildlife Dept. officials noted, “We would like to congratulate all our winners and thank everyone who joined us at this year’s event. A special thank you to the Tribal Hatchery staff for their arduous work and dedication in stocking our rivers and streams. A warm thank you to all the fish permit vendors – outstanding job! And, a great big thank you to the EBCI Natural Resources Enforcement officers who worked our rivers and streams. We certainly could not provide this service to our anglers without you.”
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Jakob Absher, of Cedar Bluff, Va., took home the top prize of $5,000. (EBCI Natural Resources photo)
In all, 271 tagged fish were stocked, and 114 anglers turned in a total of 152 tags for a total cash payout of $12,125. Jakob Absher, of Cedar Bluff, Va., took home the top prize of $5,000. Other anglers winning big prizes included: Justin Gannt, of Kings Mountain, N.C., won $1,000; Kyle Dubois, of Reidsville, N.C., won $1,000; David Shelton, of Greenville, Tenn., won $500; Richard Hoffart, of Fairview, N.C., won $500; Anthony Hopper, of Newton, N.C., won $100; and Thomas Brown, of Old Fort, N.C., won $100. 12 anglers won $50 prizes and 133 anglers won $25 prizes.
The next $10,000 tagged fish tournament is scheduled for the weekend of May 27-28 with prizes ranging from $25 to $1,000.
- EBCI Natural Resources release