Crowds flock to foreshore

Hooked on Portland once again offered all the right ingredients, with thousands flocking to the coastal city of Portland to enjoy one of the region’s fastest growing seafood and fishing festivals.

Held over Friday 17 and Saturday 18 January, strong crowds packed the Portland Foreshore to enjoy the extensive array of free, family-friendly offerings.

Glenelg Shire Council Mayor Cr Karen Stephens said the festival was another huge success.

“We are thrilled to see that thousands of people attended this year’s ‘Hooked on Portland’ festival, making it a truly remarkable event for our community and our region as a whole,” she reflected.

“The feedback from eventgoers has been overwhelmingly positive. From the extensive lineup of live music to the fishing competitions, people are not only enjoying what Portland has to offer, but they are coming back year after year to experience the vibrant atmosphere and excitement of this iconic event.

“We thank all our major sponsors and event partners who contributed to another Hooked on Portland weekend in near perfect weather conditions.

“We look forward to seeing this iconic event continue to evolve and promote all the best that our Shire has to offer, including our local produce and our premier fishing status.”

Throughout the weekend the extensive range of activities included twilight markets, artisan food and wine stalls, kids fishing hub, 3×3 Basketball showcase, a two-day long fishing competition and free fishing clinics.

Fishing Edge’s Lee Raynor wooed crowds on Saturday from the catch and cook tent, providing tips and tricks to eventgoers on the best ‘fishing to plate’ experience. Raynor was joined by local cooking enthusiasts Jen Risk and Michelle Brittain, who shared their culinary secrets using locally caught produce.

The live entertainment once again pulled in strong crowds, particularly on Saturday, with families bringing picnic rugs and chairs from the early afternoon to listen to live music at the main stage. This year’s stage moved to the southern end of the Foreshore with the backdrop of the Trawler Wharf and Port of Portland, allowing attendees to immerse themselves in all aspects of the festival from one central location.

The evenings set list culminated with a high-energy performance from Australian cover band Furnace and the Fundamentals, who wooed crowds with their infectious stage presence.

The festival is hosted by Glenelg Shire Council in partnership with the Victorian Fisheries Authority.