Searchers have recovered the body of a 21-year-old college student from Kentucky who went missing Wednesday on the Toledo Bend Reservoir.
Texas Game Wardens and the mother of Peyton Hughes confirm his body was recovered Friday morning.
“Peyton is gone to be in Heaven with his dad, who died fighting for our country,” the United Cajun Navy said. “Thanks to everyone who assisted in the search.”
“Our thoughts continue to be with Peyton’s family, friends, teammates, and fellow students at Campbellsville University during this difficult time,” a spokesperson for the Texas Game Wardens said.
Sara Ashley Hughes, Peyton's mom, posted:
Oh NOOO my baby is GONE. They recovered his body this morning in the lake. Please pray for us. 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, a student enrolled at Campbellsville University in Kentucky, was a member of the Campbellsville University Kayak Fishing Team and was pre-fishing for a Bassmaster Kayak Series event when he was reported missing Wednesday.
Multiple agencies from both Texas and Louisiana assisted in the search, including Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Agents, Pendleton Harbor Volunteer Fire Department, Sabine County Sheriff’s Office, and Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office and its dive team.
STATEMENT FROM SHERIFF GEORGE GRIFFITH/SABINE COUNTY
On September 26, 2025, The Sabine County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office, in Louisiana, recovered the body of Peyton Hughes, 21 of Springfield, Kentucky from the Toledo Bend Reservoir, near the Alpine Marina. Hughes had been reported as missing since approximately 8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, by his fishing coach.
Hughes was participating in the Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series and was engaged in pre-fishing before the start of the tournament. Hughes was also part of the Campbellsville University fishing team which was also participating.
Starting on that Wednesday, after the Sabine County Sheriff’s Office was notified, Deputies were dispatched to the area, along with the Pendleton Harbor Volunteer Fire Department, Game Wardens from the Texas Parks and Wildlife and representatives from Eye in the Sky Recovery Incorporated, a local search and recovery firm that is equipped with multiple drones with assorted capabilities. Hughes’ kayak was recovered banked, on an island, several hundred yards East from, the Alpine Marina boat lunch, in an area that locals refer to as Alligator Cove. Searchers, also recovered Hughes baseball cap. The search was suspended after midnight.
On Thursday the Sabine County Sheriff’s Office returned and resumed the search before daylight with the assistance of several additional agencies which included the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office marine and dive teams, Louisiana Fish and Game agents, local residents and Eye in the Sky Recovery representatives, Texas game wardens, Alexandria Fire Department dive teams and the Pendleton Harbor Volunteer Fire Department. A flip-flop was recovered late in the day in the same general area where the kayak had been recovered. All attempts to locate Hughes met with negative results and the search was again suspended after dark.
On Friday, all of the above agencies plus the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office and the Cajun Navy, all, staged assets at the Alpine Marina boat launch and resumed searching before sunrise with air assets and specially equipped boats. Close to 7:30 am, the dive team from the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office reported the discovery of a body in the general area of the island, some two hundred yards North of the kayak recovery site. Additional assets were dispatched from the boat ramp to assist. The body, once recovered, did match the description provided for Hughes, to authorities.
Sabine County Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1 was called to the scene as well as Starr Funeral Home. The Justice of the Peace ordered an autopsy and the body was transported to Forensic Medical of Texas, in Beaumont.
The Sabine County Sheriff’s Office would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Hughes, as well as to his teammates, coaching staff, students and the facility of the Campbellsville University, during this difficult time.
We would also like to thank all of the assisting agencies from Texas and Louisiana, the Eye in the Sky Recovery, the private organizations and the countless number of volunteers who assisted over the last three days.
STATEMENT FROM B.A.S.S.
HEMPHILL, Texas — B.A.S.S. confirmed today that Campbellsville University angler Peyton Hughes has died following a search on Toledo Bend Reservoir in Texas. Hughes had been reported missing Sept. 24 after failing to arrive at a designated meeting place while pre-practicing for the Bassmaster Kayak Series event scheduled for Sept. 27–28.
Authorities were notified by Hughes’ travel partner when he did not return as planned. Officers with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department began a search and subsequently located his kayak. Search teams representing multiple agencies from both Texas and Louisiana recovered Hughes from the water this morning, shortly after resuming their efforts. The investigation by TPWD is ongoing.
“Our entire B.A.S.S. family is heartbroken by the loss of Peyton Hughes,” said Chase Anderson, CEO of B.A.S.S. “Peyton was a passionate and talented young angler with a bright future ahead of him. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, teammates and the Campbellsville University community. Peyton’s family will be in our thoughts and prayers during this devastating time.”
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