About Us

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Who We Are at Hervey Bay Amateur Fishing Club

Our History

Hervey Bay Amateur Fishing Club was incorporated in 1975 and currently has 218 financial members. Membership consists of four different types of Memberships, they are Life Members, Family Membership, Senior Memberships and Junior Memberships.

Our members have had up to 40 years’ experience in local fishing. We actively promote recreational fishing within the Fraser Coast Area, we achieve this through conducting, social events, monthly fishing competitions, junior tuition and fishing technique clinics, liaison with the Department of Fisheries, Membership of Fishing Alliance and interaction with other fishing clubs and organisations within the Fraser Coast Area.

Our Competitions

The fishing club in 2015 introduced a new fishing monthly competition, which was based on catch and release taking photos and using the photos for the weigh in. The dead weight weigh in still exists but has slowly been replaced by the photo method. This has helped in reducing the impact of recreational fishing on fish stocks by an estimated 250 kilos per year. The Club has at least 3 away fishing trips in the year calendar.

Our Clubhouse

In 2016, the club fulfilled the founding member’s vision of erecting a clubhouse. The club successfully applied for a community grant and the shed was completed in January 2017. The club also applied for a grant to construct a BBQ Trailer, which was also successful, this project that was completed in October 2016. The trailer is used for fundraising and used by other community groups for their fundraising events at a minimum charge.

In 2024 the Club applied for and was given a grant by the Fraser Coast Regional Council to help the Club to build a colorbond fence that will in due course provide security and privacy for the Club’s new and larger club house. The club is very grateful for the ongoing support provided by the Council.

Our Committee

The responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Club rests with the Committee. The Committee may vary in size and composition from time to time but always has a President, Treasurer and Secretary. The Committee will also generally have a number of additional members, some with specific roles that could include for example convening social activities or weighmaster duties. Due to the interaction with the community through our fund raising and fishing events, all members of the Committee must hold a current Blue Card.

The Club’s fund raising consists of weekly raffles on Wednesday Afternoon 5pm at the Hervey Bay Sports Club on Tavistock Street, Sausage Sizzles at Bunnings, a Biannual Garage Sale and the provision of BBQs for community functions. The Club also has a broad range of sponsors that are instrumental in the success of our activities. In addition, the Club seeks funding through grant funding and is grateful to receive funding from the Queensland State Government and Council on a regular basis.

The Club conducts an Education Hour every Wednesday at 4pm at our Club house prior to adjourning to the Hervey Bay Sports Club. The purpose of the Education Hour is to create an environment for sharing skills, experience and insights with members. Topics are broad ranging and include fishing tactics, lure making, safety and navigation as well as regular updates from government agencies such as Fisheries, Water Police, and Volunteer Marine Resue.

Membership Over The Years

Membership over the years:

· 2010 56 member

· 2012 38 members

· 2014 48 members

· 2016 98 members

· 2018 178 members

· 2020 133 members

· 2023 203 members

· 2024 190 members

· 2025 218 members

Fishing Adventures with Hervey Bay Amateur Fishing Club

Fishing Competitions

The club participates in an annual Inter Club Fishing Challenge between the 5 local fishing clubs. The Club has been very successful in winning this event in the past. We are the current champions in both Open and Junior categories.

Members also conduct an annual Junior Whiting Fishing Competition with support growing each year. Last year we had 80 participants – juniors aging from 5 to 16 years, with their parents accompanying them, enjoying a morning of fishing for whiting under the tutelage of our members and then enjoy a free sausage sizzle. Prizes are donated from our local businesses. It is our way of giving back to the community, plus promoting our club for junior members and applying for community grants. We are hoping to get 100 participants for the next Competition.

We also hold 3 scheduled trips away where we compete for a trophy for the best fish caught, plus novelty prizes. They are great ways to socialise with our members outside the club house and is becoming more popular every year.

Our Strategic Plan 2023-2025

Most importantly…To have fun, be safe, inclusive and of course catch fish in a way that is sustainable to our Environment.

a) To promote recreational fishing within the Fraser Coast Region and build stronger ties and relationships with other fishing clubs and community clubs.

b) To introduce new members to the fishing areas by way of tag along trips, personal one on one tuition and provide GPS co-ordinates for local areas and Green Zones

c) To maintain a membership base of approximately 175.

d) To actively engage with foundation members and newer members to improve participation in competitions and events.

e) To grow our junior membership to at least 20.

f) To have at least two away trips to Burrum Heads & Tin Can Bay.

g) To win the Inter Club Fishing Competition.

h) To achieve budget and maintain profit by reviewing all expenditure and income on a monthly basis and evaluate where necessary.

i) Continually update our website to reflect current and accurate information.

j) To establish and document procedures of the Secretary’s position.

k) To establish a promotional plan and Publicity Officer to increase the club’s profile within the Fraser Coast Area.

l) To ensure committee members have Blue Cards as per our constitution.

m) To promote sponsor’s businesses through our club, website, newsletters, and information media.

n) To increase and train a number of members to participate in fundraising events.

o) To hold at least 4 Bunnings Sausage Sizzles in the year.

p) To hold an annual garage sale.

q) To run a Xmas Hamper Raffle per year.

r) To plan and implement the changes required to extend the existing clubhouse building and surrounds to meet future demand.