Lorne Aquatic and Angling Club

18/09/2026

REDEVELOPMENT REPORT

It’s been a beehive of activity over the last couple of weeks with everything moving along nicely. Our windows have started to go in so the cladding won’t be far away now. The electrical wiring is well on the way, the air conditioning ducting has been installed, the solar panels are on, the big limestone blocks are being laid out the front and the earthworks for the Lazarus Lounge have started.
The completion date is now early December so fingers crossed.

Images: The rear windows are in so the cladding should start this week. The roof under the roof on the left is going to have the AC and cool room compressors mounted on it so they’re out of the sun and will be partly hidden;
This is the retaining wall for the back of the Lazarus Lounge and behind that you can see the start of the roundabout;
These are Limestone blocks in front of the entry ramp;
The front windows are going in using Black Butt Eucalypt frames

11/09/2026

ALBATROSS & BIRD FLU

I’m a bit of a bird lover and if I had to pick a favourite it would have to be the Albatross. 90% of our boat fishing trips we have them arrive and swim around the boat waiting for a feed. The most I’ve ever had was 32 but that was 20 years ago when we had lots of black browed albatross here but they have almost disappeared completely. We are lucky to see 2 or 3 of them each year now. They are nearly all Shy Albatross these days which are the only ones that breed in Australian waters on 3 small rocky islands off the coast of Tasmania. They were named 'Shy' by the old sailors a couple of centuries ago because unlike the other species they wouldn’t come close to the ship.
These days they obviously haven’t read the bird books saying that they are shy and they come close enough to touch and will grab fish off the hook if we don’t lift it into the boat quickly enough.
This new strain of Bird Flu the H5 is a huge concern.
Because it’s a new strain the scientists have no idea which birds are the most vulnerable, what percentage of each species will have natural immunity, if it will spread to our inland birds, animals and even humans. At the moment it’s just the sea birds dying from it but apparently this could change. It’s a worry.

Images: A shy albatross hoping for a feed;
A few at the back of the boat recently.

08/09/2026

SNAPPERS, FRIDAY NIGHT GET TOGETHERS & FREE SAUSAGE SIZZLES.

These are still going great guns even with half the population of Lorne being up north. We need to maintain good numbers for it to be viable for the caterers Matt & Bridget and we are doing just that. We’ve got 4 gas heaters out the front on the deck and it’s cosy and warm inside. Surprisingly the majority prefer to be outside even on the coldest nights so the heaters are working well. Also the Snappers are still running their first Friday of the month catch ups which are always great fun.

Image: The Snappers sitting inside all warm and cosy and having a lovely catch up.

08/09/2026

POSTPONED BY 1 WEEK - NEW DATE 27th SEP
Due to unforeseen circumstances, fishing comp no. 5 has been pushed back one week and will now be held on Sunday 27th September 2026. Apologies for any inconvenience.

MAJOR FISHING COMP NUMBER FIVE
SPONSORED BY GREAT OTWAY CONSTRUCTION

Sunday 20th September, the comp runs from 6am until the deadline of 12.30pm. Weigh-in starts at midday. It’s free to enter for members and all competitors get a free roast lunch. Prizes are awarded for first, second and third in both the junior and senior categories. Juniors must be under the age of 18. You can only weigh in one fish each, so anyone can win on the day, and it’s environmentally friendly. Come and have a crack. It’s great fun.

Weigh-in, lunch, refreshments and presentations will all be held at Stribling Reserve, downstairs near the canteen and booth.

There’s a big gap until the next comp as we aren’t running Winter Comps this year because we don’t have a clubhouse.

Image: This is Zac Roydhouse who is fast becoming the shark-catching king of the pier. Last month he caught a huge school shark and this month he caught this gigantic 7 gill shark. It must have been a tough gig hauling that up onto the pier. :

06/09/2026

FISHING REPORT

Still no boat access so no boat fishing report.
PIER. The Pier is producing good catches of Big Salmon, Trevally, Snapper, King George Whiting, Mullet, Leatherjackets, Calamari and lots of sharks.

04/09/2026

RAFFLE WINNER

Our raffles are still going along nicely thanks to our generous members who come along to our Friday night catchup evenings and free sausage sizzle at the surf club and always dig deep when the raffle books appear. As usual all the takings go to local charities. Not the profits. All the takings. We pay for everything so every cent we collect goes back into the town.

Image: After 25 years of buying raffle tickets Gary Keane finally won first prize. Keany is one of our most regular members and also a sponsor. If anyone is looking for a brick layer or needs scaffolding, he’s your man.

02/09/2026

IT’S ON AGAIN THIS FRIDAY
ANGLERS FRIDAY NIGHT CATCH UP AT THE SURF CLUB.
4pm onwards. Cheap drinks. Free sausage sizzle. Worlds Best Prawns Raffle. Warm as toast inside and we’ve just purchased some new gas heaters for out on the deck.
ALL WELCOME.

31/08/2026

LEON IS OUT OF HOSPITAL AND BACK HOME
Great news that Leon is back and looking good. This is his new custom made helmet which he must use when he’s up and about. He decided not to go with the Viking Helmet, it was too heavy. This one is as light as a feather.

30/08/2026

MAJOR FISHING COMP NUMBER FIVE
SPONSORED BY GREAT OTWAY CONSTRUCTION

Sunday 20th September, the comp runs from 6am until the deadline of 12.30pm. Weigh-in starts at midday. It’s free to enter for members and all competitors get a free roast lunch. Prizes are awarded for first, second and third in both the junior and senior categories. Juniors must be under the age of 18. You can only weigh in one fish each, so anyone can win on the day, and it’s environmentally friendly. Come and have a crack. It’s great fun.

Weigh-in, lunch, refreshments and presentations will all be held at Stribling Reserve, downstairs near the canteen and booth.

There’s a big gap until the next comp as we aren’t running Winter Comps this year because we don’t have a clubhouse.

Image: This is Zac Roydhouse who is fast becoming the shark-catching king of the pier. Last month he caught a huge school shark and this month he caught this gigantic 7 gill shark. It must have been a tough gig hauling that up onto the pier. :

27/08/2026

IT’S ON AGAIN TONIGHT
ANGLERS FRIDAY NIGHT CATCH UP AT THE SURF CLUB. 4pm onwards. Cheap drinks. Free sausage sizzle. Worlds Best Prawns Raffle. Warm as toast inside and we’ve just purchased some new gas heaters for out on the deck.
ALL WELCOME.