Fisherman drowns at Tims Ford Lake after boat drifts from dock

Nobuyuki Terajima drowned Sunday at Tims Ford Lake Sunday after jumping into the water to retrieve his boat.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Tenn. (WSMV) - Nobuyuki Terajima, 58, drowned Sunday at Tims Ford Lake after jumping into the water to retrieve his boat, which had become undocked and drifted toward a nearby island, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

The TWRA was called to the lake just after 3:50 p.m. Sunday after witnesses reported seeing Terajima struggling in the water. He did not resurface.

Todd McAdams was returning to the dock when he saw a water rescue underway.

“As I understand it, the boat blew off the ramp. He didn’t have a life jacket because it was on the boat. As anybody would think 40 or 50 yards isn’t a long way to swim, but you have to take precautions,” McAdams said. “It’s just a tragic situation, horrible,” he said.

Terajima, known to friends as Nobu, first came to the United States from Japan in the 1990s. Charlie Brewer, a longtime friend, said the two met during that visit and maintained a bond he described as a family connection.

“He was an excellent fisherman. He loved the lure we made, that’s why he contacted us to start,” Brewer said.

Terajima competed in bass fishing tournaments across the country. Brewer said no one could match him on the water.

“Nobody could out fish him, at least I couldn’t, and his Japanese friends said they couldn’t either,” Brewer said.

Brewer said he has had sleepless nights since learning of Terajima’s death.

“He was a good guy. A good person all the way around, and it really bothers me he’s gone at an early age,” Brewer said.

Terajima lived alone in Hermitage. His family remains in Japan. Brewer said Terajima never married.“He never got married because he loved fishing more,” Brewer said.

Brewer recalled a phrase Terajima would say whenever he hooked a bass.

“In Japan when he would get a bass on the line, he would always say ‘kare motte’ I would be like, what does that mean. He’s got it,” Brewer said.

Now many are cherishing the momentS they got with Terajima as they reflect on the tragic accident, they say should have never happened.

The incident remains under investigation. TWRA says this marks the third boating death on Tennessee waters for 2026.