Lakes Entrance was buzzing last Sunday as the 2026 Hooked on Lakes Seafood and Fishing Festival drew crowds to the foreshore esplanade, with the weather clearing just in time for a day of free demonstrations and exhibitions.
The Victorian Fishing Authority reported that fishing clinics ran all day, with a few lucky attendees catching fish. Fisheries officers and their education team engaged with visitors, sharing their knowledge and passion for the diverse marine and freshwater life found in the region.
The festival site was alive with activity, featuring food trucks, market stalls, fishing activities, boat safety demonstrations, aquatic ecology displays, and a Kid’s Zone. The popular cooking demonstrations attracted keen audiences eager to learn new ways to prepare seafood, including Victorian prawn, mussel, and rockling paella, Aussie tacos, and salmon cooked three ways.
Lakes Entrance Fishing Co-operative offered behind-the-scenes tours of their facility, providing visitors with insight into aquaculture and commercial fisheries operations, while Dr Corey captivated crowds with fish dissections, explaining every detail of their anatomy. The Australian Border Force also made an appearance, answering questions from the public.
One of the festival highlights was the famous Duck Cup, organised by the Lakes Entrance Action and Development Association. Ducks splashed into the lake, drawing a large crowd to see whose duck would win. All funds raised support the Lakes Entrance New Year’s Eve Festival & Fireworks, organised by LEADA.
Live entertainment kept the festivities going, with local musicians competing in the Battle of the Bands and Battle of the Buskers, before the headline act, Pierce Brothers, closed the day at 6.30pm.
This free, family-friendly event continues to grow in popularity, becoming a major drawcard for locals and visitors alike on the Sunday of the Labor Day weekend.
