The club’s programme of events is usually full and varied. Meetings take place at the Binstead Community Centre on the fourth Wednesday of each month from September through to May. Most club meetings consist of either a talk, slide show or video. Effort is made to try to ensure the talks are interesting both to the beginner and the experienced fishkeeper. For example, we have had talks and slide-shows by a local diver who travels all over the world pursuing his hobby, on Fossil Fish on snakes & reptiles and various other general interest subjects but all still retaining a ‘fishy flavour’.

During the summer a more ‘out and about’ approach is taken with walks along the beach or rivers, barbeques, aquarium visits, fish buying trips to the mainland ten pin bowling nights and, again, a strong social flavour is evident at these meetings with the society often standing a round of drinks.

Probably the largest single event on the Club’s calendar is what has become known as the Grocklemania Weekend. Island Fishkeepers organise this annual event as a weekend of fun and enjoyment for the whole family with an underlying ‘fishy’ trend, culminating on the Sunday with the Island Fishkeepers' own Open Fish Show. A large number of fishkeepers from all over the country eagerly attend the weekend with many more coming over just for the show on the Sunday. In previous years Grocklemania has taken place at Harcourt Sands Holiday Village, Puckpool Hill, Near Ryde on the Isle of Wight and the Royal York Hotel, George Street, Ryde. We have now gone back to our roots, back to where is all began at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park near Bembridge. This new venue has proved to be very popular with our guests.

Nearly every year, club members visit and exhibit at the British Aquarists’ Festival in Manchester and the FBAS’s own showpiece event, the Supreme Weekend of Fishkeeping, currently held at Mill Rythe Holiday Park on Hayling Island near Portsmouth. We have enjoyed great success, winning the tableau class several times in recent years. These are very enjoyable weekends blending aquatic interest with light-hearted social activity.

Other social highlights include the annual Christmas Dinner which is always a great success.

The membership incorporates a variety of people of all ages and all levels of fishkeeping experience. It does not matter whether you just want somewhere to escape for a couple of hours or if you are looking for a greater dedication to the hobby, there is something there for everyone and in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. You can decide your own level of commitment and nobody will push you deeper than you wish to go.