The Plymouth 400 Bass & Blue Tournament

The Plymouth 400 committee charged with “lead-up events” is happy to announce that they have established a striped bass and bluefish tournament as both a fundraiser and a way to attract attention to the upcoming celebration. The inaugural tournament will take place on July 14 and 15, 2012 and the event is expected to become an annual happening.

The tournament, officially titled “The Plymouth 400 Bass & Blue Tournament”, will include divisions for adults (age 16 and older), youth (ages 7–15), and children (under age 7) and will be separated into categories for those fishing on-shore, as well as those fishing offshore. Total prize money is slated to be over $3,500.

“We’re very excited to have this tournament in town,” said Paul Quintal, a member of the Tournament Committee and Captain of The Lobster Tales; a local harbor cruise vessel popular for its unique educational cruises, “Pirate Cruises” and “Ice Cream Cruises” for children, as well as their sunset wine cruises for adults. “We’re especially excited that it will include opportunities for kids. We’re hoping that it will be a great chance for families to spend some time together enjoying Plymouth’s great coastline."

Tournament entry fees are $40 for adult division entrants and $20 for youth division competitors. Prizes in adult categories will be $400 for first place, $200 for second place and $100 for third place and each place finisher will receive a trophy. Youth place finishers will be awarded gift certificates, as well as trophies and children’s division entrants will receive participant ribbons. There is no entry fee for children under age 7 but they must register in order to be eligible for ribbons.

Mario Costa, Tournament Committee member and owner of , another prominent Plymouth maritime provider that specializes in fishing charters added his comments on the upcoming event: "The Tournament Committee is happy to be able to bring this event to Plymouth. It will be a great addition to the Plymouth 400 slate of events but it’ll also be great in its own right. Plymouth is such an incredible area for fishing and it’s surprising that we haven’t had a major tournament here in years."

More information on tournament rules and details can be found on the Tournament’s website at www.plymouthma400.org/bassandblue. Participants may also register to participate on the website or may do so in person at the Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce offices, at Pioppi’s Liquor Store, or at either the Andy-Lynn or Lobster Tales ticket booths on the Plymouth Town Pier.

The Plymouth 400th Anniversary commemorates the 1620 landing of the Pilgrims in Plymouth. Massachusetts, and highlights the cultural contributions and American traditions that began with the interaction of the Wampanoag and English peoples; a story that began a national legacy.