TOLEDO BEND, TEXAS — Authorities have confirmed the recovery of Peyton Hughes, 22, a Campbellsville University student and competitive kayak angler, whose disappearance sparked a multi-agency search at Toledo Bend Reservoir. Hughes, originally from Kentucky, had been reported missing on September 24, 2025, after failing to meet his travel partner during a pre-tournament fishing outing.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) initially located Hughes’ kayak but found no trace of the young angler. On Friday morning, Hughes’ mother, Sara Ashley Hughes, confirmed the heartbreaking news: “Oh NOOO my baby is gone. They recovered his body this morning in the lake… My sweet boy is gone to be with his Daddy who died fighting for this country. I love you Peyton Hughes & Adam! Oh gosh I’m hurting so bad!”
Hughes had been preparing to compete in the Bassmaster Kayak Series tournament scheduled for September 27–28. The search involved TPWD and local teams, using boats, aerial support, and specialized equipment to comb the reservoir. Community members, family, and friends closely followed updates during the intensive search.
B.A.S.S. (Bass Anglers Sportsman Society) extended condolences, honoring Hughes as a passionate and dedicated angler whose sudden passing is felt deeply across the competitive kayak fishing community. Loved ones remember him as a devoted son, a skilled athlete, and a young man whose life ended far too soon.
Authorities continue to review the circumstances surrounding Hughes’ death, and Campbellsville University mourns the loss of one of its promising student-athletes.
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