Berkley Pro Team wins Dave Irvine Snapper Classic.

For the second year, Berkley Pro Staffer Michael Guest has again placed outright champion angler at the Dave Irvine Memorial snapper classic.

Guest and team members Mark 'The Captain" Phillips, Blake Hughs and Brian Perry were more than sucessfull in catching 16 of the total 56 snapper caught. "The Captain" placed runner up champion angler and the team placed as champion team in a field of 60 plus boats and over 160 anglers.

This tournament in memory of Dave Irvine of Environet fame was run over the Queens Birthday long weekend out of Coffs Harbour. The weather was against all and Saturday was cancelled in the face of 30 plus knot winds and three metre seas. Sunday was marginal but the boats fished one super session from 5.30am to 1pm and the Berkley boys were last home to take the coveted "snapper on a stick" trophy.

This tournament is unique in that every snapper is released, with anglers having to measure, digitally photograph and submit the memory card from the camera for points. The total length is deemed as the winning catch.

On the day Gulp 7" jerkshads were the baits of choice. The biggest snapper of the weekend went 86cm, with bigger fish smoking anglers in the rough and tumble seas.

The Berkley Pro Staff were on hand to "show and tell" and the public participation was excellent. Young Matt Mckewan had the misfortune to break his only snapper stick on the Saturday. The pro Staff were happy to give him a new IM 7 Snapper spin stick to continue with and we wish Macka pictured here with his busted rod but great fish, every success for the future.

All in all a great weekend even if the weather was not that flash. Plenty of return entrants for next year which is going to be bigger and better according to organisers, Paul Hayman and Scott Amon.

If you love snapper, this tournament is a "must do" and with thoughts of tying "Guesty" down for next year, maybe someone else may get a look in!