IRISH BASS FESTIVAL ITINERARY

We have put together this itinerary to ensure everything goes smoothly over the weekend and you know where you are supposed to be at all times. We have included information of things to do (apart from fishing) in the Tramore area.

You will find all the information you need with regards times of check in/ registration and social events which will be running over the weekend.

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Thursday 19th of July
Morning:

Registration from 9am on at Absolute Fishing until 7pm.
Receive your entry pack but you will not receive your official measure until Friday morning.
Anyone who is staying in the Grand Hotel can check in from 2pm.

Evening:

Briefing in Grand Hotel at 8.30pm
Live music with Seattle from 9.30pm.
*Anyone staying in Grand Hotel who is getting up too early to get breakfast can order a packed lunch from reception. This must be done before 8pm.

Friday 20th of July
Morning:

Festival Starts.
You can register all day from 5am at Absolute Fishing until 6pm and collect your welcome/information pack with official measure and I.D card.
If you have been in on Thursday to register you still have to come to Absolute Fishing on Friday to collect your measure and I.D from 5am on.

Once you have your official festival measure and I.D card you can begin fishing.

Now go fishing!!!

Evening:
Live music in Grand Hotel on Friday night at 10pm is Pablo Duo.
*Again anyone staying in Grand Hotel who is getting up too early to get breakfast can order a packed lunch from reception. This must be done before 8pm.

Saturday 21st of July

Morning:
Registration is still open in Absolute Fishing for those of you who can only fish Saturday and Sunday. You can register from 5am.

Everyone else can keep fishing….

Evening:
Live music (from Lebowski) in Grand Hotel at 11.30 till late…                                                                                                               
*Again don’t forget to pre-order packed lunch if leaving hotel early

Sunday 22nd of July
Morning:

Keep fishing!!

Afternoon:

All anglers who are entering fish MUST be back in Absolute Fishing by 2pm, we will not be accepting entries from anyone after 2pm. Your entry will be counted once you are on the premises of absolute fishing by 2pm.

Evening:

Prize Giving in the River Room at the Grand Hotel at 7pm followed by the after party.
Finger food and live music with The Jam Tarts. (Bring the family and friends)

Party and fishy tails from the weekend to go on until the early hours…..

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SAFETY

Fishing over the Festival weekend is at your own risk. We will take measures to mitigate risk, but ultimately involvement is as at the risk of the individual.

PLEASE NOTE THERE IS A LACK OF MOBILE SIGNAL AT THE MAJORITY OF MARKS YOU WILL FISH OVER THE WEEKEND.

BEWARE OF RISING TIDES, NOTE HIGH WATER MARK SO YOU DON’T GET CUT OFF

IT IS ADVISED TO FISH IN PAIRS.

HOW TO FIND US

Absolute Fishing is located in Riverstown Business Park in Tramore.

Full address: Unit B Site 2, Riverstown Business Park, Tramore, Co.Waterford.

Google maps/ Sat nav’s etc for directions.

If in doubt just give us a call on 00353 51-393559

When approaching Tramore on Waterford road, take the first exit at the roundabout, follow this road through 3 roundabouts and take right hand turn into Riverstown Business Park. Absolute Fishing is located on right.  

ENTERING YOUR FISH

We encourage anglers to enter fish on the Saturday if you are in the area, if not all fish must be entered by 2pm on Sunday at Absolute Fishing. We will not be accepting entries from anyone after 2pm. Examples will be given on entry of how best to take a picture of the fish you catch.

MARKS TO FISH
The marks to fish are endless, terrain and ground to dream about. You will be supplied with maps courtesy of the Fisheries Board which will give you an indication of the best marks to fish over the weekend. If anyone has any particular worries with regards access or terrain at a venue please let us know and we will point you in the right direction.  

WHAT YOU NEED

- A 1m+ measure. You will receive your official measure when you register for the festival at Absolute Fishing.

- A digital camera. A phone camera will do just fine, but ideally all entrants will carry a digital camera with removable memory card or have a lead to connect to our computer. This will ensure good quality photographic proof and enable us to quickly and easily verify fish measurements.

- Your ID card. This must be carried with you at all times and must be clearly visible in all fish photos. You will be provided with your ID cards when signing in at the beginning of the festival.

TIDES (am/pm - tide height)

Friday 20^th : 7.07am-3.9, 13.25pm-0.6, 19.25pm-4.0

Saturday 21^st: 1.46am-0.6, 7.42am-3.9, 14.01pm- 0.5, 20.00pm-4.0

Sunday 22^nd: 2.23am- 0.6, 8.18am-3.9, 14.40pm-0.5, 20.37pm-4.0

SPONSORS

TopWater Lures

PRIZES

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1^st: Overall winner: Longest fish (Wins Irish bass festival trophy)

2^nd: Overall second longest fish over the weekend

3^rd: Overall third longest fish over the weekend

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Other prizes

Longest fish (visiting angler, outside of Ireland)

Best combined length (Best 3 fish combined)

Juvenile angler (Longest fish)

Raffle (spot prizes)

THINGS TO DO IN TRAMORE

Every possible leisure activity is catered for in the Town itself, or in the surrounding areas. Outdoor activities include several adventure and water based activities along with plenty of indoor pursuits for kids and adults.

Tramore is also close to many popular attractions such as the amazing Waterford Crystal Visitor’s Centre and factory tour, and the Museum of Treasures located at the Granary Visitor’s building on the Quay above the tourist information office.

Trmaore is regarded as one of the top surfing and outdoor adventure spots in Ireland with three world class surfing schools located on the beach.

Tramore’s Golf course is well regarded internationally, and other excellent Golf courses such as Waterford Castle and Faithleg are only a short drive away.

Tennis, Pitch and Putt and Horse Riding are available in or near Tramore, and the nearby Comeragh Mountains are ideal for hiking.

Please visit the Tramore tourism website (www.tramore.ie) for more details on things to do in Tramore

Something to think about...

As the bass ban arrives its gives us a great chance to get out and try for some of the other great sport fish we have around our coastline this time of the year. The Smooth hounds are starting to make an appearance along the Wicklow and Wexford coast (there is a target for the soft plastic fanatics). And we always have the mighty pollack to keep us entertained during the month off. However one species I am most looking forward to having a proper go at is the wrasse. Plain and simple soft plastic fishing for wrasse is a lot of fun. In my very limited experience (too busy chasing bass) I have found wrasse take about any soft plastic you land on his nose. The fight is excellent they will try their very best to run you straight to ground...so tighten up that drag. For info on plastics and rigging drop into the shop and we can show you what has worked for us.

The bass festival is just around the corner, so if you are thinking of signing up just give us a call on 00353 51-393559. Looking for some encouragement well then check out Henry's new photo gallery of his recent trip over to the Waterford Coast.

A full itinerary of events over the bass festival weekend will be online shortly here. Entry numbers to date are fantastic and it is shaping up to be a great weekend....

We are also back OPEN ON SUNDAYS the usual time from 10am-3pm.

Tight lines,

James.

Things starting to look up....

on the Copper coast...

We are closed this Sunday (gone fishing) but we are open on Monday form 10-3.

Have a good bank holiday weekend.