Bass Beware. Anglers are coming, and they’re coming in droves.

More than 50 boats have registered for the annual Moonlight Hawg Hunt will be held tonight at Natchez State Park. And anyone is welcomed to join the search for the lake’s infamous big bass.

&uot;Come and join. We’ll sign you up at the landing when you come in,&uot; said Carroll Huff of the Kanahal Archery Club, which is sponsoring the event. &uot;Even if we go slightly over, we’ll take you.&uot;

The limit on boats was set at 75, but only 52 boats have registered. Each boat can have more than one angler on it, but the cost is $50 per person, not per boat. The event is a favorite for all anglers.

Fishermen from Jackson, Baton Rouge and Vicksburg have already registered.

&uot;Last year we had only 42 boats, but there was a lot more advertising this year. And that helped out,&uot; said Neil Hays, assistant manager at the park.

Hays said he hasn’t heard any good fishing reports as of late. He said one man caught about a 12-pound bass from the banks a few weeks ago, but he slipped on some rocks, and the bass squirmed out of his hands and back into the lake.

&uot;We haven’t had any good reports since then,&uot; Hays said. &uot;I anxious to see what big bass get caught this year.&uot;

Last year, the largest bass weighed about seven or eight pounds, Hays said.

The biggest bass caught and weighed this year was landed in February. It weighed in at 11.72 pounds.

The event begins at 7 p.m. and goes to 3 a.m.

There will be hourly prizes for the largest bass, and an overall grand prize of $1,000 for the biggest for the tourney. Proceeds from the event go to the American Cancer Society.

Anyone is welcomed to attend the event.