Cast a line and dine at coming fishing festival

PORTARLINGTON is again gearing up to host the annual Hooked on Bellarine Festival to help seafood lovers and recreational fishers celebrate next month’s National Gone Fishing Day.

Hosted by the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA), the free event will feature live music, market stalls spotlighting fresh Victorian seafood – including the area’s famous blue mussels – and a wide range of family friendly activities and demonstrations, all aimed at encouraging newcomers to give fishing a go.

The Hooked on Bellarine Festival will take place on Sunday, October 13 at the Portarlington Safe Harbour foreshore between 10am and 4pm.

As part of the celebrations, angling club volunteers and not-for-profit organisation Fishcare will provide a series of hour-long ‘come and try’ fishing lessons to youngsters aged between 6 and 12, while Better Boating Victoria will offer boat trailer reversing clinics to those eager to brush up on their skills and enhance their boating experience.

The VFA team will be on hand, offering educational talks to festival attendees about snapper, whiting, calamari, fish anatomy and aquaculture, along with kids’ activities such as fly fishing demonstrations, virtual reality fishing experiences and giveaways.

Members from the Women in Recreational Fishing and Boating Network will lead the community in a demonstration of knot-tying techniques and share tips to help anglers improve their catch rates for King George whiting, gummy shark and other popular Bellarine species.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to learn how to turn their catch into delicious meals with filleting demonstrations, cooking presentations and seafood recipes all on offer throughout the festival.

Bellarine MP Alison Marchant celebrated the event’s return this year.

“I’m delighted that Portarlington is hosting the Hooked on Bellarine Festival which is bringing our community together, supporting the next generation of anglers, and showcasing our famous blue mussels to visitors and locals alike,” she said.

The Hooked on Bellarine Festival is supported by the Victorian government’s $96 million investment into improving fishing, boating and piers.

To further encourage newcomers to reel in a new hobby on National Gone Fishing Day, a recreational fishing licence will not be required anywhere in the state on Sunday, October 13.

Minister for Outdoor Recreation Steve Dimopoulos said the state government was a proud supporter of recreational fishing and would continue to support local fishing clubs and festivals to encourage more families to give it a go.

“Hooked on Bellarine showcases the peninsula as a fishing and boating mecca, right on the doorstep of Geelong – which is an easy day trip from Melbourne and a great reason to come and check it out,” he said.

For more information, or to reserve a spot in a kids’ ‘come and try’ fishing clinic or boat handling and trailer reversing clinic, head to vfa.vic.gov.au/hookedonbellarine