When the Doobie Brothers sang about the catfish jumping in their hit song “Black Water” they weren’t lying. For the past two years, anglers competing in the Bill Dance Mississippi River Monsters Mega Buc$ Pro Series Catfish Tournament have hauled in some whoppers and the first-place winners of the Vicksburg tournament have walked away with $100,000. An additional $100,000 is also awarded, making for a total purse of $200,000.

Now, for the third consecutive year, the River City will be hosting the event, which will run July 26 and 27.

“Vicksburg is the best catfishing city I have seen in the U.S. because they make it easy to host,” director and founder of the tournament George Young Jr. said. “There is the comradery of the city and sponsors. They just roll the red carpet out for the tournament.”

So much so, he said, more than 3,000 people turned out for last year’s event.  And from all the participation, Young said he is hoping to get a few more locals fishing.

So far, only one Vicksburg team is planning to compete and there are still 15 openings.

“It sure would be nice if we could get some more local people,” Young said, adding there is nothing like a little hometown competition.

Young is also open to more local businesses becoming sponsors. Some have already committed, he said.

At at what has become an annual event for Vicksburg, those in attendance can also expect to see Bill Dance and Duck Dynasty’s John Godwin.

To learn more about competing in the Bill Dance Mississippi River Monsters Mega Buc$ Pro Series Catfish Tournament, visit mississippirivermonsters.com.