Texas Border Business
The South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce welcomed anglers, captains and their families to the 43rd Annual Ladies Kingfish Tournament beginning on Friday, August 8th for registration. Early Saturday morning anglers hit the waterways returning to the docks before 7:00 p.m. to weigh in their catch.
The Awards Ceremony on Sunday brought anglers and their families back together to recognize those who took top prizes. Winning anglers received wooden cutting boards with with black slate insets featuring the tournament artwork designed by SPI Chamber staff member Dianna L. Harvill. Trophies were also awarded for Grand Champion Bay Division, Grand Champion Offshore Division and the LKT Legacy Award.
This year’s bay grand champion was Laney Davis from Harlingen, TX. Laney brought in all three species (Redfish, Trout and Flounder) for a total weight of 12.05 pounds. She was fishing with Charles Buchen on the Tail Chaser. Debbie McNair from San Antonio, TX walked away with the Offshore Championship when she brought in all four species (Kingfish, Bonito, Dorado and Blackfin Tuna) for a total weight of 26.20 pounds. Debbie was fishing on the Chachi with Captain Jesse Delgado.
The LKT Legacy Award, created in memory of Ann Wells by her daughter Vicki Lambert, was awarded to Sarah Bryan-Reyes from South Padre Island, TX. Ann Wells fished LKT for 35 years prior to her death in 2017. The award was started in 2017 as the “Angler Annie Award”, and was presented to Maria Pinkerton. In 2018 the name was changed to the LKT Legacy Award and was presented to Sandra Veale. Kelsey Wells Garcia received the award in 2019, no award in 2020, Sylvia Wernecke in 2021, Diana Johnson in 2022 and Charla Givens in 2023.
Mark your calendar for the 44th Annual Ladies Kingfish Tournament scheduled for
August 8-10, 2025, and start your own Island tradition.
