The Arkansas River is popular for a variety of outdoor recreation activities such as camping, picnicking, boating, and water skiing. Locks and dams along the river allow access to some of the best fishing in the country. The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission stocks the river with sport fish such as bass, crappie, catfish, and bream. The river is a popular location for major fishing tournaments such as BASSMASTERS and the Simmons Bank Big Bass Bonanza. Due to the record-breaking total catch (which still stands) when BASSMASTERS was held in Pine Bluff, the city now bills itself as the "Bass Capital of the World. Launch your boat at Regional Park, Island Harbor Marina, Saint Marie Park, or Shepherd’s Island.

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