Horsham is set to host one of its biggest weekends of the year, with thousands of people expected to line the banks of the Wimmera River for Horsham Fishing Competition on Sunday.
With a prize pool of more than $40,000, organisers anticipate around 1,500 people to register for the competition.
Mayor Cr Ian Ross highlighted the tourism boost the event brings to Horsham.
"We are pleased to welcome so many visitors from across Victoria and interstate. Events like these not only showcase our beautiful region but also provide a significant boost to our local economy," he said.
"It's a great time of year for Horsham, and we look forward to seeing everyone come together for a fantastic weekend," Cr Ross said.
People from across Victoria and interstate travel to Horsham to camp along the Wimmera River and enjoy a full weekend of activities, starting with the Horsham Greyhound Cup on Friday night.
Sunday will also feature a car show at May Park to raise money for Wimmera Against Cancers in Kids, and a riverfront pop-up Summer Series event from 2pm to 6pm.
Fishing Competition registrations are on track to reach the 1,500-mark. The event is a chance for families and friends to gather on the Labour Day long weekend.
Cr Ross congratulated all those who made the event happen.
"A huge thank you to our Fishing Competition committee and dedicated volunteers who have worked tirelessly to make this event possible. Their commitment and hard work are truly commendable."
"Our council's operations team has done an excellent job preparing the open space along the river and providing bins. Our Local Laws team will be working across the event to keep the community safe," he said.
The major prize for the overall longest native fish is a $7,500 HelloWorld Travel voucher, while there is a $3,000 Big4 Parks voucher for the second longest native fish. There are another 18 prizes for adults and 10 prizes for juniors. There are also specific categories for the longest catfish, yellowbelly, and silver perch or redfin, as well as bags of carp measured in length. Anglers will also have a chance to win lucky entry and spot prizes.
Fish are judged through a catch, photograph, and release system, with competitors following a set of rules to measure the fish by length, not weight, before submitting through an online portal.
