Cameron Irizarry of Parkersburg was a winner in the annual Monster Trout Contest sponsored by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. Fish were not judged on size as winners were chosen by random drawing among those who caught a specially tagged monster trout and submitted a photo with the tag number to the state. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — A Parkersburg man was a winner in the Monster Trout Contest sponsored by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

Cameron Irizarry was among five fishermen who caught a specially tagged trout that was stocked from Oct. 20-27. The winners were chosen in a random drawing of those who submitted a photo of their catch with the pink tag.

“Congratulations to our winners, and thank you to all the anglers who got out on the water to participate in our fall trout stockings this year,” said DNR Director Brett McMillion. “Your enthusiasm and support for West Virginia’s incredible trout fishing opportunities help make programs like this possible, and we look forward to seeing even more folks enjoying our waters in the year ahead.”

The grand prize winner was Michael Waugh of Clarksburg, who received a cabin stay at a state park in West Virginia.

Irizarry and the other three winners, Bonny Davis of Mount Jackson, Va., Cory Rexrode of Bartow, W.Va., and William Biyce of Fenwick, W.Va., will receive a Bass Pro Shops prize package.

Fall trout stockings this year included 40,000 pounds of trophy-size trout and 6,500 pounds of monster trout. A hundred of the monster trout were tagged with a bright pink tag.

Fishermen who caught a monster trout with the pink tag had until Nov. 21 to submit a photo of the catch with the tag number to win a prize.

The Monster Trout Contest was created four years ago under Jim Justice, former governor, current U.S. Senator and avid fisherman.