HEMPHILL, Texas – The desperate, multi-day search for Peyton Hughes, a 22-year-old student and gifted angler from Campbellsville University’s kayak fishing team, has come to a heartbreaking conclusion. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department confirmed on Friday morning that recovery teams have located his body in the vast waters of Toledo Bend Reservoir.

The news was first shared publicly by his mother, Sara Ashley Hughes, in a devastating social media post that confirmed the family’s worst fears. Hughes was first reported missing on Wednesday, September 24, after he was on the water pre-practicing for a major national tournament and failed to return to a designated meeting point. His empty kayak was discovered shortly after the search began, but for two agonizing days, his family and the tight-knit competitive fishing community held onto hope for his safe return.

That hope turned to profound grief on Friday morning. The tragic discovery has sent a shockwave through the world of collegiate sports and has left a Kentucky family grappling with a second, unimaginable loss. Hughes’ father, Adam Hughes, was a soldier who died serving his country.

The Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.), the organizer of the tournament Peyton was preparing for, expressed their deep sadness, joining a chorus of condolences from across the country for a young man whose passion for his sport was surpassed only by the love he had for his family.

A Mother’s Grief: “My Sweet Boy is Gone”

On Friday morning, after two days of torturous waiting, Sara Ashley Hughes shared the news that no mother should ever have to write. In a raw and powerful public post, she confirmed that her son’s body had been found.

“Oh NOOO my baby is gone,” she wrote. “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!”

Her words revealed a double-layered tragedy that has left the community heartbroken. Peyton’s father, Adam Hughes, was a military hero who gave his life in service. For his mother, this loss is a cruel echo of a pain she has already endured, and her statement that her son is now reunited with his father is a testament to both her deep faith and her profound grief.

Her post was a tragic bookend to the one she had shared just a day earlier, a plea filled with the desperate hope of a mother waiting for news.

“PLEASE keep my son, Peyton Hughes, and everyone searching for him in your thoughts and prayers,” she had written on Thursday. “He was in Louisiana fishing with the Campbellsville University Kayak Fishing Team and is currently missing. We are holding onto hope. My Mama heart is very heavy right now. I am asking for prayers, positive thoughts, and any support as the search continues.”

The journey from that hopeful plea to Friday’s devastating confirmation is a nightmare that the Hughes family is now living in real time.

The Search: Two Days of Hope and Desperation

Peyton Hughes had traveled from Kentucky to Toledo Bend Reservoir, a massive and notoriously challenging body of water that straddles the Texas-Louisiana border, with a clear purpose. He was there to compete in the Bassmaster Kayak Series tournament, a prestigious national event scheduled for September 27-28.

Like all serious competitive anglers, he arrived early to “pre-practice”—to scout the water, identify promising spots, and get a feel for the conditions. On Wednesday, he and a travel companion were out on the water in their respective kayaks, exploring different areas of the lake before agreeing to meet up at a specific point later in the day.

When Peyton failed to arrive at the rendezvous, his partner’s concern grew with each passing minute. After being unable to reach him by phone, his companion immediately notified the authorities, triggering a large-scale search-and-rescue operation.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) took the lead, dispatching game wardens and search boats. The first major discovery was an ominous one: they located Peyton’s fishing kayak, empty and adrift. There was no sign of the young angler.

As night fell on Wednesday, the search continued. As the hours stretched into a full day on Thursday, the operation intensified. Local agencies joined the TPWD crews, and specialized equipment, likely including side-scan sonar, was deployed to search the depths of the reservoir. The vastness of Toledo Bend, which covers over 185,000 acres with a complex shoreline and submerged timber, made the search incredibly challenging.

For 48 hours, his family in Kentucky and the entire fishing community waited, anxiously checking for updates and flooding social media with prayers and messages of hope. That hope was extinguished on Friday morning when the search transitioned from rescue to recovery.

A Passion for the Sport: The Competitive Angler

Peyton Hughes was not just a casual fisherman; he was a talented and dedicated competitive angler representing Campbellsville University, a school with a nationally recognized bass fishing program. Collegiate fishing has exploded in popularity, becoming a highly competitive sport that requires skill, strategy, and a deep understanding of the natural world.

To qualify and compete in a Bassmaster Kayak Series event is a significant achievement. It placed Peyton among some of the best kayak anglers in the country. The series is a high-stakes tour where competitors fish solo from kayaks, a discipline that requires incredible stamina and self-reliance. Peyton’s participation was a testament to his skill and his commitment to the sport he loved.

The Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.), the world’s largest fishing organization, had been in direct communication with TPWD throughout the search. They released a statement expressing their sorrow.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and extend our thoughts and prayers to Peyton’s family, friends, and the Campbellsville University community,” the organization said. “Peyton was a talented angler and a part of our fishing family. His loss will be felt by all who knew him.”

Campbellsville University also released a statement. “The Campbellsville University community is heartbroken to learn of the tragic passing of student-athlete Peyton Hughes,” it read. “Peyton was a valued member of our bass fishing program and a friend to many. We ask for prayers for his mother, Sara, and his entire family during this time of unimaginable grief. Our counselors and campus ministry team are available to all students, faculty, and staff who are mourning this terrible loss.”

A Community Mourns: The Tight-Knit World of Fishing

The competitive fishing world is a unique and close-knit community. While the anglers are fierce competitors on the water, they share a bond forged by a mutual love for the outdoors and a deep respect for one another. The news of Peyton’s death has hit this community especially hard.

Tributes from fellow college anglers, professional fishermen, and fans have been pouring in, remembering Peyton as a tough competitor and a kind young man. His death is a sobering reminder of the inherent risks of being on the water, a danger that every angler understands but hopes they never have to face.

His loss is a profound tragedy that underscores the fragility of life. A young man, in the prime of his life, pursuing his passion at the highest level, was taken far too soon. As the community gathers in East Texas for the tournament he was so excited to fish, there will be a heavy cloud of sorrow hanging over the event. He will be remembered in their casts, in their prayers, and in the shared love for the sport that brought them all together.

He is survived by his mother, Sara Ashley Hughes, and is now, in her words, reunited with his late father, U.S. Army Sgt. Adam Hughes. A son’s journey has ended, but his memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.