Cherokee’s Annual Opening Day Fishing Tournament

For 2023, Cherokee’s fishing season “opening day” will be March 25, and we are offering you 20,000 reasons to get excited about it.

Our Opening Day Fishing Tournament requires a $15 entry fee and a $17 two-day fishing permit, covering both tournament days to compete for $20,000 in tagged fish. You’ll be competing in the rivers on the Qualla Boundary (excluding the 2.2 miles of catch-and-release waters). Tagged fish will be specially stocked for this event, and when you catch one, you redeem it for cash prizes ranging from $25 to $5,000 at the Natural Resources Enforcement Office, 517 Sequoyah Trail, Cherokee, NC 28719, which is across the street from Cherokee Welcome Center off Hwy 441. Prize redemption hours are from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. each tournament day, with a final tag turn in time of 4 p.m. on day two.

Register anywhere fishing licenses are sold or online at FishCherokee.com by Friday, March 24, 2023. Fishing hours are one hour before sunrise and end one hour after sunset each day. Open to all ages and for all legal fishing methods.

EBCI Natural Resources Department reserves the right to cancel, reschedule, or amend any tournament or event due to catastrophes, pandemics, states of emergency, adverse weather, etc.