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2026 KDW Recap
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Ten years ago, the Stuart Sailfish Club launched a meatfish tournament built on a simple idea: get boats of all sizes on the water, bring the catch to the scale, and let the dockside take care of the rest. A decade later, the KDW Tournament is still doing exactly that and the 2026 edition was one for the books.
Ten Years of Kingfish, Dolphin, and Wahoo
The Stuart Sailfish Club's KDW Tournament wrapped up its 10th year on May 15–16. Captain's Meeting opened the weekend Friday night at the SSCF Tiki, boats ran out of Sailfish Marina of Stuart on Saturday, and the awards banquet brought everyone back to the Tiki that evening.
KDW has always been a different kind of tournament. Open to members and visiting anglers alike, big boats and small, seasoned crews and first-timers. That mix is what's kept it growing for ten years.
Hit Em Straight Sets the Standard
This year belonged to Hit Em Straight. The boat swept the leaderboard, taking the Aggregate Meatfish title with a commanding 55.69 lbs and putting angler Mark Carrier at the top of the individual standings. They also brought in the heaviest kingfish and the heaviest dolphin of the tournament — a clean sweep that's tough to pull off in a field this competitive.
Aggregate Meatfish
- Hit Em Straight — 55.69 lbs
- Triple H — 15.91 lbs
- Reel Music — 15.9 lbs
Top Angler
Mark Carrier — Hit Em Straight — 27.12 lbs
Heaviest Kingfish
Hit Em Straight — 10.72 lbs
Heaviest Dolphin
Hit Em Straight — 27.12 lbs
View all leaderboards and results on Reel Time →
Big congratulations to the entire Hit Em Straight crew, to Triple H and Reel Music for rounding out the meatfish podium, and to every boat that came to the scales.
The Partners Behind the Tournament
KDW would not happen without the support of the businesses and partners who step up year after year. Our deepest thanks to the 2026 Tournament Sponsors:
Tight Lines Apparel — our official shirt sponsor, outfitting every angler in the tournament.
Sweet Smoke BBQ — for the in-kind food contribution
Subs & Suds — for the in-kind food support
If you've enjoyed a shirt, a plate, or a cold one this weekend, you've got these folks to thank. Support the businesses that support the Club.
To Everyone Who Made It Happen
Thank you to the SSC board, the tournament committee, the volunteers running the scales and the dock, the staff at Sailfish Marina of Stuart, and everyone working behind the scenes to make sure the day ran smoothly. From check-in Friday night to the final award handed out Saturday, your work is the reason the rest of us got to enjoy the tournament the way we did.
And to every captain, angler, crew member, and family who came out to fish or to cheer — thank you. Ten years on, KDW is what it is because of you.
The 2026 Season Keeps Rolling
KDW is in the books, but the season is just hitting full stride. Here's what's on the horizon:
- Endless Summer Sailfish Tournament — June 1–August 31, 2026. A new format for 2026, replacing the traditional Summer Sailfish Tournament. Teams declare their fishing days in pursuit of the summer sail.
- 2026 Annual Release & Conservation Awards — the season is underway. Make sure you're logging your releases.
Thanks again to everyone who fished, sponsored, volunteered, and showed up. Here's to ten more.
— Stuart Sailfish Club