Game Fishing Association of Victoria

Fisher, Graham Mayberry, Dick Stumbles, and Bob Ellis. The Game Fishing Association of Victoria (GFAV) was officially established on November 16, 1976.

GFAV is the governing body for game fishing in Victoria and is affiliated with the Game Fishing Association of Australia (GFAA) and the International Game Fishing Association (IGFA). Currently, there are 16 clubs affiliated with GFAV, representing approximately 700 game fishers.

One of GFAV's primary responsibilities is to compile and maintain Victorian records for each recognised species for men, women, juniors, and small-fry anglers. These records help recognise and celebrate the achievements of game fishers in Victoria. GFAV also works in close collaboration with the Victorian recreational fishing peak body, VRFish, and represents game fishing anglers on a national level through the Game Fishing Association of Australia.

The association is managed by its Executive Committee and Council, which consists of delegates from all member clubs. Council meetings are held several times per year at the Clubrooms of the Victorian Game Fishing Club in Edithvale. All anglers affiliated with GFAV are invited to attend these meetings, and visitors are always welcome.

GFAV has a comprehensive website that provides various resources and information to its members, including the fish record claim procedures, Victorian tag and release records, GFAA records, eligible species, points score charts for capture, and information about junior tournaments. Members can also access news and reports relevant to the game fishing community.

The history of GFAV dates back to the collaborative efforts of the presidents of three game fishing clubs in Victoria: the Swordfish and Tunny Club of Australia, the South Gippsland Game Fishing Club, and the Victorian Game Fishing Club. They decided to establish a Victorian Game Fishing Association, and the inaugural meeting was held on November 16, 1976, at Ian Cutler's residence.

The founding members of GFAV were representatives from each club, including Ian Cutler, Peter McNamara, Leo Tyquin, Roy Fisher, Graham Mayberry, Dick Stumbles, Keith (Dolly) Grey, Charles Gibling, and Bob Ellis. At that time, the three clubs had declared the following number of club members to GFAV: Swordfish and Tunny Club of Australia – 66, South Gippsland Game Fishing Club – 30, and Victorian Game Fishing Club – 187.

The constitution for the association was prepared by Ian Cutler and Keith Grey, and the signatories to the constitution were Ian Cutler, Peter McNamara, Charles Gibling, Keith Grey, Roy Fisher, Graham Mayberry, Dick Stumbles, and Bob Ellis.

Overall, GFAV has been instrumental in promoting and regulating game fishing in Victoria for over four decades. It serves as a unified voice for the game fishing community and continues to foster a sense of camaraderie and competition among anglers in the region.