Anna Bay Fishing Club has split the $5000 it raised in the past year between four Port Stephens groups.

Warren Leadbeatter said the club’s members fund-raise throughout the year which is then reinvested into the community by way of donations to charities and groups in the area.

This year’s beneficiaries were Tomaree Breast Cancer Support Group, Anna Bay Public School P&C, Lifestyle Solutions and Anna Bay Rural Fire Brigade.

Taurie Lalor representing the breast cancer support group, P&C member Renee Thompson, Josh Street and Narelle Robertson from Lifestyle Solutions and firefighter Chris Glen each collected a $1250 cheque from the fishing club to help their respective organisations. 

Anna Bay Tavern Fishing Club was established in 2011 by a couple of blokes over a beer.

The idea for it was to start a social fishing club to promote and encourage people to “get out there” and “have fun”, Mr Leadbeatter said.

“We now have over 150 members from the local community as well as people from all over Australia,” he said.

Membership is open to singles, couples, families and children.

On the last weekend of every month a fishing weekend is held where members are encouraged to go out fishing from 3pm Friday until noon on Sunday. 

A weigh in is held at Anna Bay Tavern on the Sunday from noon to 2pm where points and prizes are awarded for biggest fish and most fish caught in the mens, womens and junior divisions.

There is also lucky door prizes and a free members barbecue lunch.

Points are tallied throughout the year for the annual presentation function where awards and prizes are also awarded for club champions.

There is also a Christmas party and a weekend away fishing event held each year.

The fishing club’s monthly committee meetings, annual functions, monthly fishing competition weigh ins and fundraising events, which include Friday night joker poker, meat tray raffles and Thursday night seafood raffles are held at Anna Bay Tavern.