Walking into a store and being greeted by name is a rare experience these days. That personal touch is what sets Caloundra Fishing World apart. David Granville—better known as Granny—and Andrew Orr (Orry) have transformed a simple seaside bait shop into a thriving fishing community. In just two and a half years, their expertise, generosity, and genuine personalities have made CFW the go-to fishing store in town.
Their lifelong mateship, spanning 45 years, forms the foundation of their success. It began with their fathers—Granny’s dad, Ron, and Orry’s dad, Geoff—fishing mates from rival clubs. From the age of five, the boys joined their dads on annual camping trips to Double Island Point or Fraser Island, casting lines into the then-deserted surf beaches.
“We loved fishing in the surf for tailor, bream, and dart,” Dave recalls. “Even as a young fella, Andy was a really good beach wormer—his job was to pull the worms, then we’d go fishing. Those were the best times of our lives.”
Back then, the beaches were empty. “If you saw another car, you’d wave like, ‘Holy crap, there’s someone else up here!’ You could pretty much camp wherever you wanted. It was the perfect upbringing—fishing off the beach, camping under the stars. We couldn’t have asked for better.”
Both grew up in Brisbane—Dave in Graceville, Andy in Ashgrove. Dave’s dad, a shipping manager for Shell Oil, was part of the Shell Fishing Club, while Andy’s dad, a fishing writer at the Courier Mail, belonged to Victory Fishing Club. The clubs, both under the South Queensland Amateur Fishing Association (SQAFA), competed fiercely yet always supported each other.
“Things were a lot different back then,” Dave recalls. “The club scene was all about catching as many fish as possible—no bag limits. We’d haul in 100 fish a night, and that was just normal. Nothing went to waste. After a club session, Dad would spend half the next day at the filleting table, and neighbours would drop by for their share. We’d even barter fish for fresh fruit and veggies.”
The Brisbane River was their go-to fishing spot. While Dave focused on jew fish, Andy specialised in sharks. “I used to sell them to the University of Queensland for dissection for $10 each,” Andy recalls. “One day, I told the bloke to bring extra eskies. He asked why, and I said, ‘I’ve got 27 sharks here for you.’ I made $270 in an afternoon when my full-time job only paid $225 a week.”
Fishing was in his blood. Andy would ride his pushbike 30 kilometres from Ashgrove to the river, to fish alongside Suncorp Stadium, with his blue heeler by his side. Nights were spent fishing under the bridge at Norman Creek, hauling in massive jew fish.
Dave’s passion for fishing extended beyond the water. He devoured fishing magazines as a child, and though he was an average English student, his deep knowledge of fishing led to writing opportunities with various boating and fishing publications. Reviewing boats for Trailer Boat Magazine required photography skills, which became a defining part of his career, leading to work with Marlin Magazine and Sport Fishing Magazine in the USA. Eventually, he became the editor of Trailer Boat Magazine and BlueWater Boats & Sport Fishing Magazine.
His career then took a turn into television, spending seven years with All 4 Adventure, a four-wheel-drive TV show, handling sponsorships and photography. “It was an incredible experience, taking me across Australia’s most stunning landscapes while working with Jason, Simon, and their talented team.”
Andy’s path remained rooted in fishing. At 15, he started at a tackle store, learning rod repairs under his mentor, Dave Hooper. Together, they built high-quality handmade rods but couldn’t compete with mass-produced overseas products. Andy later worked as a fishing guide in the Gulf of Carpentaria, while Dave moved to the Maldives.
Despite the distance, their bond never wavered. “We always stayed in touch when it came to fishing because our relationship is fishing, fishing, fishing,” Andy says.
At 19, Andy lost his mother. Struggling to cope, he packed a backpack and travelled across London, Scotland, Canada, America, Southeast Asia, and Europe. A brief return home showed little had changed, so he left again. Eventually, he found stability at a waste transfer station, supporting his family while fishing remained his constant passion.
Reuniting in 2020, Andy and Dave decided to launch Rockstar Tackle, an online store selling unique fishing gear. They soon realised online shopping lacked the personal touch, reducing competition to price alone. Despite heavy investment in SEO and a Warana warehouse, the business struggled.
Then, in August 2022, Caloundra Fishing World hit the market. Seeing an opportunity, they bought the store and spent the next two and a half years transforming it into today’s successful business. “It’s a completely different shop now—nothing like when we took over,” Dave says. “It was pretty run-down. The previous owner had been here for years and was over it.”
Now, they stock all major brands. “Once we got Shimano, everything changed. It allowed us to take the shop to the next level. More recently, we added Daiwa, giving us the two biggest names in fishing tackle. And now, we’ve finally secured Alvey.”
“Caloundra is Alvey heartland,” Dave says. “Alvey is known for its side-cast reels, and for estuary and beach fishing, it’s long been the reel of choice for many local anglers.”
“Like any small business, it hasn’t been easy,” Dave admits, “but Andy and I are proud of what we’ve built.” Andy elaborates on their dynamic, saying, “Our business partnership is bloody brilliant. Dave’s the brains, and I’m the mouth—I could sell ice to Eskimos. I’m happy to let Dave handle ordering; we discuss it, he orders it, and I sell it, and he’s really stepped up on the retail side too.”
They don’t see big-box stores like BCF and Anaconda as competition. “When people walk into those places, they don’t get the personalised service we offer. Here, we know most of our customers by name, and that connection is invaluable. Many have become friends.”
One of their best ideas was Lure of the Week. “Back when TikTok was booming, we realised we could reach a massive audience without spending a cent. Every Friday, we pick a new lure and Orry presents it. We just have fun with it, taking the mickey out of each other. There’s no sponsorship, no cash-for-comment—just genuine enthusiasm. Over two and a half years, we haven’t missed a single week, and it’s gained a loyal following across Australia. Recently, Orry was recognised all the way down in Tasmania, and even wholesalers ask when their lure will be featured!”
Granny and Orry encourage anglers who haven’t visited in a while to return and see what’s new. With the store expansion, top fishing brands, and the best bait on the Sunshine Coast, there’s never been a better time to drop by and stock up for your next fishing trip.
7-9 Tay Avenue, Caloundra. Phone (07) 5491 4566.
