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Walker's Cay's world class marina has room for over 60 sportfishing boats that competed in the 2026 Walker's Cay Invitational
Brendan Chavez-1656 Productions
When it comes to making a positive impact, few have worked harder, overcome more, provided more hurricane relief or cared more deeply for the people of the Bahamas than Carl Allen. But his commitment to making a positive impact in the Bahamas is not usually the first thing that comes to mind simply because he’s also a passionate sport fisherman and treasure hunter who’s recovered enough historically significant artifacts including: a solid gold necklace weighing over 2 pounds, silver bars weighing over 70 pounds and countless emeralds and thousands of coins from the famous wreck of the Maravillas that sank on the Bahamas Bank to fill a museum he’s built in Freeport.
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Carl Allen displays one of the significant finds he's uncovered from a ship that sank in 1656 in The Bahamas
Brendan Chavez-1656 Productions
And, oh yeah, he also owns a world-class fishing destination in the Bahamas—Walker’s Cay in the Northern Abacos— too. When he bought Walker’s Cay in 2018, it had been abandoned for decades, and his team was starting the re-build process when the devastating category 5 hurricane Dorian hit in 2019.
“I’ve been going to Walker’s since I was a kid. And I’m still amazed that I ended up being the guy that’s bringing it back to life,” he says with a warmly humble smile. “I knew bringing Walker’s back was going to be great for fishing. But after the devastation of Hurricane Dorian and then Covid19, our commitment to rebuild—and help the locals—became even more important.”
Allen’s island rejuvenation efforts started by building a world class marina that would bring fishermen back to Walker’s. And the first major event to reopen Walker’s to the world was the inaugural Walker’s Cay Invitational Blue Marlin tournament in 2021. But that was only the beginning.
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Team owner Phillip Weiker (who’s competed in every invitational since 2021) and his crew led by Captain Jimmy Sullivan, took home the overall Walkers Cay Invitational victory and $283,500 in prize money
Brad Young-1656 Productions
Back then, Walker’s Cay’s legendary stature among the fishing community—and Allen’s pledge to pay $1 million to the first angler to land a Blue Marlin weighing in over 1,000 pounds during the Invitational—attracted the some of the best tournament fishermen in the world.
Since then, Walker’s Cay’s reputation as one the best fishing destinations—with the best marina—in the Bahamas has continued to grow. So have the number of Walker’s Cay-based fishing tournaments. This year, the season kicked off with the Walker’s Cay Wahoo Classic in early March. Then continued with the IGFA Walker’s Cay Shootout in April. The SFC Walker’s Cay Blue Marlin Open (that was won by NBA player Ben Simmons, and then the granddaddy of them all—the Walker’s Cay Invitational (with a total prize pool of $1,256,000)—in late May.
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Team owner Phillip Weiker (who’s competed in every invitational since 2021) and his crew led by Captain Jimmy Sullivan claimed $283,500 in prize money as the winners of the 2026 Walkwer's Cay Invitational
Brad Young-1656 Productions
I’ve heard from many anglers that the Invitational is their favorite tournament of the season. And I’m pretty sure this year’s overall winners aboard Team Kickin Tires feel the same way. Team owner Phillip Weiker (who’s competed in every invitational since 2021) and his crew led by Captain Jimmy Sullivan, took home the overall victory and $283,500 in prize money.
And since no one weighed a Marlin in the “biggest marlin” competition, the prize money, just in that category alone, will be over $500,000 next year.
Watch this space.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
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