Featured Outdoorsman #3

 

7/31/2017

Meet Reel Obsession Outdoorsman: Terry Pederson

A fishing industry professional based in Southern California, Terry shares his favorite fishing experiences at home and abroad.

 

In 31 years in the fishing industry, I’ve had the opportunity to fish all over the country, as well as in Canada and South America. I’m not an expert in any one particular area, but I sure have had a lot of fun experiencing the wide variety of fishing locales the US and other countries have to offer.

 Working in sales for a fishing tackle company, you might think I am out fishing every week.  In reality, I get in about 4-5 good fishing trips a year.  Past excursions include California, Alaska, Florida, and New England, and more.

My favorite place for fishing is the flats in the Florida Keys. There, I enjoy fishing for Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon. I fish Isla Mirada in the Fall, or Key West in the Spring. You fish with light tackle, like you would for bass or other freshwater species, but when you hook up, you could have a 100-yard sustain run with a fish pulling line and running in less than two feet of water. To me that is the ultimate fishing experience. Even if you don’t land a fish, the Florida Keys are absolutely beautiful. There are no bad days.

I enjoy fishing with my sixteen-year-old son, Clayton. I wish we got a chance to go more often. Clayton loves it. He has caught many species, from Sierra trout to Bluefin Tuna. I hope it is something he will enjoy all his life. A lot of times we also take trips with clients, whose company I really enjoy. Having the opportunity to see them hook and land a big fish is very rewarding.

My favorite fish is the Bonefish. My first experience was fishing the RedBone Tournament in Isla Mirada, FL, some 25 years ago. It’s a celebrity charity tournament that raises money to fight cystic fibrosis.

I teamed up with Trevor Gowdey, a producer and star of many fishing shows. His father, Curt Gowdey, produced and starred in the American Sportsman TV show for twenty years. Curt was my hero through my youth, and I got the chance to meet and get to know him as well. Later, Trevor invited me to fish the headwaters of the Amazon River in Peru. We caught Peacock Bass down there. It was the trip of a lifetime.

Biggest Catches:

My biggest fish was a 200lb Striped Marlin in Cabo San Lucas during the Rolex IGFA Offshore Championship Tournament. It was pretty good for a Striped Marlin, but I’ve never landed a Blue or Black Marlin. They can get huge.

 

On the first day of the RedBone Tournament, I won a trophy for biggest Bonefish—my catch was 13lbs. It has been my favorite fish ever since.

Gear:

While I don’t personally own a boat, I often share my friends’ boats or the guide’s boat, as well as learn from their expertise. It has made for some of my most enjoyable fishing trips.

I fish Lew’s all the way. You get a ton of features for the money, and the durability adds even more to the value. Lew’s continues to expand its products in many regional markets, including inshore fishing. By the way, I love the Reel Obsession brand of clothing!

Terry lives in Seal Beach, CA, and is the Vice President of Sales for Do Outdoors LLC, Lew’s Fishing Tackle.