By: Dianté Marigny
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com
The spirit of sport, tradition, and community was alive and well as the 44th Annual Ladies Kingfish Tournament (LKT) wrapped up on August 9, on South Padre Island. Hosted by the South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce, the event drew 267 women anglers across 99 boats, all setting out early Saturday morning in search of big catches and lasting memories.
Of the 267 competitors, 169 returned to the docks before the 7 p.m. deadline to weigh in their fish, making for a lively and competitive day on the water.
Sunday’s awards ceremony, held at the SPI Convention Center, drew a full crowd of anglers, captains, and their families. Winners were awarded wooden cutting boards featuring original tournament artwork created by Chamber staff member Dianna L. Harvill, along with trophies in top categories.
Britani Snow of Loveland, Colorado, was crowned Grand Champion of the Bay Division, reeling in all three key species—redfish, trout, and flounder—for a combined weight of 12.89 pounds. Snow fished aboard the Reel Situation with Captain Josh Leal.
Taking the Offshore Grand Champion title was Marti Miller of Port Isabel, who brought in four different species—kingfish, bonito, dorado, and blackfin tuna—totaling 22.97 pounds. Miller was aboard the Red Rocket with Captain Kyle Pattinson.
The prestigious LKT Legacy Award was presented to Lynn Barlow of South Padre Island. A participant in every LKT since 1998, Barlow was honored in memory of the late Ann Wells, one of the tournament’s founders. The award, originally known as the Angler Annie Award, was established in 2017 by Wells’ family and recognizes anglers who embody the enduring spirit of women in sport fishing.
Past Legacy Award recipients include Maria Pinkerton (2017), Sandra Veale (2018), Kelsey Wells Garcia (2019), Sylvia Wernecke (2021), Diana Johnson (2022), Charla Givens (2023), and Sarah Bryan-Reyes (2024). No award was presented in 2020.
Photos from the tournament, including winners and weigh-ins, are available at www.spichamber.com.
Anglers can already begin preparing for next year—the 45th Annual Ladies Kingfish Tournament is set for August 7–9, 2026.
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