A new fishing competition with cash prizes of $12,000 is luring anglers to Portland, helping to boost the local economy.
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The inaugural competition, which runs for four weeks, began on May 21 and will finish on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.
The Glenelg Shire Council competition, with support from the Portland Lions Club, was introduced to encourage people to visit Portland.
Glenelg Shire media and communications co-ordinator Liz McKinnon said more than 100 entries were received for the weekend’s competition.
“We saw there was an opening for a competition. People were coming but we wanted to give them a reason to come back,” Ms McKinnon said.
The Portland Annual Tuna Fishing Competition began last weekend but rough conditions on Saturday meant it could only be held on Sunday.
She said the majority of entries on Saturday and Sunday were from Melbourne and about quarter of anglers were from the south-west.
The tuna season traditionally ran from April until September but the tuna were biting year-round now, she said.
Ms McKinnon said a strong social media presence and word of mouth could encourage more people to head to Portland for the remaining two weekends of competition.
“It’s absolutely fantastic for the first week to have more than 100 entries. We’re expecting by the following weekend, if the word continues to spread, we might have double that amount,” Ms McKinnon said.
She said there was wider economic benefit because those fishing brought their families who spent money in local businesses.
“This is one of our biggest tourism drivers and we want to do what we can to keep it growing.”
Portland Bait and Tackle owner Chris Hall said the town was a buzz and the competition was a drawcard.
“It’s a well-run fishing competition and it’s brought business to the town with the boats and people coming,” Mr Hall said.
“It’s good for everyone. The accommodation, food, petrol stations and retailers. I know there was no accommodation available for the weekend.
“It definitely helps trade having a competition.”
Ms McKinnon said Brodie Carter from Portland was leading the competition, catching a 20.5 kilogram blue fin tuna. A daily weigh-in is held at 3pm.
A fisherman who had not entered the event caught a 122 kilogram tuna on Saturday.