Walker Cay Invitational, May 31, 2022”Coming off a strong showing on the final day of competition, Reel Pushy won the 2022 Walker Cay Invitational, which concluded earlier this month at the Walker Cay Resort and Marina in the Bahamas. Reel Pushy, an 70-foot Spencer based in Savannah, Georgia, earned top boat honors after releasing three blue marlin, two white marlin and four sailfish for a total of 2,200 points. The boat is owned by Robert Baker and run by Capt. Chris Workman.
Using a modified release format, blue marlin scored 600 points each. White marlin earned 100 points and sailfish were worth 50 points each. A total of 29 blue marlin, 29 white marlin and 16 sailfish were released by the fleet during three days of fishing. No blues were caught that met the 107-inch minimum length requirement.
Four blue marlin were released in the last hour of Day One, forcing a three-way tie between the eventual winners. Blue Angel also scored a grand slam (blue, white and sailfish) on the tournament first day. Twenty-three billfish were tallied on the second day, followed by 21 on the last day of competition.
Reel Pushy. Photo: Walker Cay Invitational
Thirty-five boats competed in the second annual event, hosted by the Walker Cay Resort & Marina, located at the northernmost island in the Bahamas. El Cazador, an 85 Ricky Scarborough, finished in second place with 1,900 points, while Big Stick, a 63 Weaver, was close behind with 1,800 points.
Nicole Scotti was named the top lady angler, competing aboard Triple S. Ten-year-old Chris David, fishing on Catch 23, was the top junior angler.
In the game fish divisions, Euphoria boated the largest tuna, a bigeye at 118 pounds. Plain Simple scored the heaviest wahoo, while Cool Breeze bagged the big dolphin, both at 33 pounds each.
The Allens [Walker owners Carl and Gigi] and their team put on an unbelievable spread and entertainment for the crews, said Tournament Director Robert Fly Navarro. What theyve done for this tournament is really special and it great to see big-game fishing back at this historic billfish hotspot.
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