Sacred Grounds: A Highlight of Lee Cox

Practically his entire life, Lee Cox has been an outdoorsman. At the age of two, on the banks of the Tar River, his grandfather introduced him to the sport of fishing. Throughout his childhood, Lee, his father, and his best friend, David Pearce, spent every birthday in a truck camper on Hatteras Island fishing Cape Point for trout, flounder, and bluefish. In his teens, Lee invested entire summers alone in Buxton honing his angling abilities, in addition to developing his budding skillset in surfing. 

Lee is one of Trusty Sail & Paddle’s valued PRO Staff, a group of local influencers and brand ambassadors whose active presence in the Crystal Coast fishing community help our small business stay connected to the broader outdoor network. Today, we are featuring Lee Cox in our PRO Staff Highlight Series! 

It was through Instagram that Lee first became connected to Trusty Sail & Paddle. Noting our enthusiasm for watersports and our knowledge of inventory, he sought to become a part of our organic growth model. “Their enthusiasm is infectious,” says Lee, “Having the Trusty Sail & Paddle connection has upped my fishing experience... I rely on them not only for my kayaks, but also tackle and gear from manufacturers such as Garmin, Shimano, ZMann, Mirrorlure, Old Town Hats and Sun Protection Apparel, Landing Nets, and GoPro Accessory Mounts from YakAttack.” Our partnership with Lee helps keep both parties engaged in our online presence. 

Lee fishes from an Old Town Salty PDL 120, purchased from Trusty Sail & Paddle. “I highly recommend this kayak if you are serious about fishing,” he notes. Finding the majority of his favorite fishing spots too shallow for his Parker 23 SE, Lee’s Salty allows him to engage in a stealthier approach, much further in. “My catch rate increases when kayak fishing,” he says, “I also like the fact that I am more connected to the water and in tune with all the fish indicators around me.” Aboard his Salty, Lee likes to keep things simple and remain laser focused on fishing, scouting sometimes up to twenty miles a day aboard his kayak, patterning fish. “The places that the kayak affords me to go have much less pressure on them and are therefore better for fishing, [which] allows for a much better experience.” 

Among Lee’s favorite fishing destinations is the Crystal Coast’s own Down East region, a rural area bordered by the North and Neuse Rivers, as well as the Core and Pamlico Sounds, seeped in rich culture, and far removed from the more densely packed Bogue Sound beach towns. “Down East is a special place that still preserves local culture and traditions,” Lee reflects. Here, “fishing grounds are sacred and trout and drum spots are precious. I mainly only kayak Down East to have less of a footprint in these areas.” 

The majority of the time, Lee fishes alone. “My fishing is really more of a spiritual thing for me.” Nevertheless, Lee expresses his enjoyment in fishing with close friends such as John Gunter, David Pearce, Will Boykin, Chase Simmons, and Alan Willis, and reflects fondly on figures influential in his journey to becoming a skilled angler, including his grandfather, his parents, and Captain Jay Blount. 

When asked what he likes best about fishing from his Old Town Salty, Lee answers, “Hands down – the pedal drive and simplicity. The drive train can easily be brought up out of the way to paddle when going through the shallows. I love the fact you can back pedal to stay in one place like a spot-lock on a trolling motor. It is one fast platform and can get me to my spots so much faster [than competing brands]... The hands free ability to cast and cover more ground allows me to locate concentrations of fish so much easier and faster.” Balanced against the noteworthy speed of the Salty, the kayak also offers Lee a stable and sturdy platform to stand up and leverage a drum out of the marsh grass. 

Drum are among Lee’s favorite fish to catch, following Trout, both of which he catches on topwater lures. Nearshore, his favorites are Atlantic Bonito, False Albacore, Spanish Mackeral and King Mackeral, using live bait. When offshore trolling, Lee goes for Wahoo and Sailfish. 

We are grateful for our partnership with Lee Cox, and thankful to have such a knowledgeable and experienced fisherman among our PRO Staff! Follow Lee on Instagram @lee4996!

Blowing Raspberries: A Highlight of the Toad Fish Mafia

This article is part of the Trusty Sail & Paddle ProStaff Highlight series. The following commentary was curated by Jimmy Burch in coordination with Rod Olsen, Casey Grobelny, and Johnnie Gray.

“I came up with the concept of Anti-Douche Bag Fishing. Our motto for having a fun day on the water.” -Johnnie Gray

The Principles of A.D.B.F.

“I kept getting car sick when they made me ride with a bag over my head,” jokes Casey, when asked about his affiliation with the Toad Fish Mafia, “They said something about liability insurance and frayed ends? Split ends? Loose ends?” 

In a more serious tone, he reflects “Ever since I joined the family, they taught me everything about fishing salt water on the east coast.” 

“The Toad Fish Mafia is really more than just a fishing team,” chimes co-founder Rod “Rawd” Olsen, “We look at it as a family.”

“I joked with my buddy that if we ever wanted to form a fishing team, we could specialize in toad fish.” - Rod Olsen

In contrast with the gritty noir aesthetic the name may evoke, members of the Toad Fish Mafia treat the family as something of a comedy, and a “silly one” at that. To them, fishing is about relaxing and having fun. The mission statement of organization speaks to this ethos, “We support A.D.B.F. (Anti-Douche Bag Fishing).” In encountering the Toad Fish Mafia, fellow co-founder Johnnie Gray hopes one might “understand the meaning of A.D.B.F. and the consequences of messin’ with the family,” spoken in a thick Italian accent. 

The tenets of A.D.B.F. are built along the values of fishing etiquette, respect for fellow anglers, and remaining conscious of others around them on the water.

As for the emblem of the family, the story goes that while attempting to catch flounder along the port wall, Rod became flustered by the endless onslaught of toad fish, and developed the idea of a joke fishing team specializing in the pesky species, by the name of Toad Fish Mafia. Taking a liking to the name, Johnnie suggested its adoption for what the family ultimately became, under the guidance of the A.D.B.F. worldview.

“Eventually, you start to look at the waterways in a new light.” -Casey Grobelny

Welcome to the Mafia

Johnnie Gray, also known as Dr. Shoals, the Enforcer, and the get away driver of the Mafia, is a local to Carteret County, and an expert waterman. When the gangsters are not aboard their kayaks, Johnnie pilots the larger boat and acts as the muscle for the family. “Just don’t expect any paint to be left on the skeg of the outboard motor,” says Rod. Having grown up on the Crystal Coast, and with a background in commercial fishing, Johnnie knows the local waters better than anyone else on the crew. He is the mastermind behind the A.D.B.F. philosophy.

Johnnie founded the Toad Fish Mafia alongside Rod, or “Rawd,” aka the Rodfather, who acts as team captain for fishing tournament purposes, and the head of Research and Development within the Tackle Division of family operations. “We spend a lot of time developing our own tackle,” he says, highlighting the team’s ambition to one day launch a product line of “Toad Fish Mafia Tackle.” Over his twenty years living on the Crystal Coast, Rod has come to make saltwater fishing his own. Part of the appeal of kayak fishing is the angler’s ability to tailor their vessel and gear to their precise needs, tapping into the crafty spirit of Rod and similar fishermen. Custom accessories, 3D printed seat risers, and TFM tackle prototypes line Rod and Johnnie’s kayaks.

Casey Grobelny, known to the Mafia as Drainhole, prefers to keep a low profile. “When fly fishing I need a lot of room to cast, and a wide foot print to keep my line clear. I’ve rigged my kayak to keep all the rods flat while remaining within arms reach and out of harm's way.” As a Boy Scout in the Puget Sound of Washington, Casey gained experience fishing in canoes and recreational kayaks. As a teen, he completed a seventy mile canoe trip in the back country of Canada. Today, he and the other members of Eastern North Carolina’s Toad Fish Mafia are part of the Trusty Sail & Paddle ProStaff, brand ambassadors for the local business and its extensive inventory of watersports boats and accessories.

“I am known in some circles as ‘the Rodfather.’” -Rod Olsen

Trusty: The A.D.B.F. Choice

All three men pilot dedicated Old Town fishing kayaks, among the most popular boats in the Trusty Sail & Paddle catalogue. In the case of Rod, these take the form of two top of the line Old Town Sportsman Autopilots, a 120, and a 136. His favorite vessel, the Autopilot 136, bears the elusive Grey Ghost finish. “Trusty is the only reason I was able to acquire that,” he exclaims. Johnnie and Casey operate twin Old Town Sportsman PDL 120s. All three continue to frequent the store for their aftermarket needs. 

“I was impressed that Trusty had EVERY item on the YakAttack catalog,” Rod continues, “I love having a local shop that carries quality Made in the USA options that I can physically touch… Trusty is my sole source for all things kayak related.”

Casey concurs, “they let me bring my boat to the shop and test fit accessories until I found exactly what I wanted… Trusty has been so friendly and knowledgeable.” 

In the words of Johnnie, “Trusty is the only place to really get a range of gear and try out a variety of kayaks around here.”

According to the Toad Fish Mafia, a local shop like Trusty Sail & Paddle is part of what makes this region a “fisherman’s paradise.” 

“I am fortunate to live on the water and have a view of the outer banks.” -Johnnie Gray

A Fisherman’s Paradise

And the turf of the Toad Fish Mafia is undoubtedly a paradise. Johnnie’s front yard backs up to the water. At the crown of the barrier islands lies Cape Lookout, a favorite destination of the crew, with a variety of fishing holes and spectacular views all around. “It looks like some tropical paradise,” reflects Rod, “I plan to fish around there for as long as I am able. That is something you don’t find anywhere else.” But the banks are far from the only waters the three have explored aboard their kayaks. 

Reflecting on his most memorable fight, Rod speaks on an adventure by Slocum Creek, near his residence in Newport. Having invested years in learning and practicing the art of “dissecting the spot,” he recalls his scouting efforts down the trail of “fishy signs,” scanning bait movement, water structure, and current flow, to a deep grassy cut, his perfect ambush location. “I positioned myself on the ‘yak,” he says, “and it went perfect. Touched the base of the grass line making almost no splash. I gave it about three cranks on the reel… when the rod nearly jerked out of my hand! Luckily I was already pinned on my Power Pole Micro Anchor and was able to focus on getting the fish out of the structure, but that thing was not happy about its new lip jewelry. It ran all over darting back and forth under the kayak multiple times.” In the end, Rod reeled in a nice overslot red fish, not the biggest overall, but his most prideful catch, having put his learning into practice and completed the perfect cast.

“On a fishing kayak, you have a lot more time to enjoy the journey and find tons of great spots in between,” says Casey. 

And while Johnnie reveals his bias toward larger boats, he admits, “what I do find uniquely interesting about kayak fishing is being able to do it right near alligators! Many just mind their own business, but a couple do show a curious side for topwater baits and such. Makes for a wild day on the water!” 

“Casey is the guy that will stand up on his ‘yak and sneak up on fish in super shallow water like a ninja.” -Rod Olsen

Blowing Raspberries

Things don’t always go perfectly for the Toad Fish Mafia. Reflecting on his most memorable fight, Casey recalls the one that got away. “[I was] standing up and sight-fishing when I saw a red fish prowling along, with its blue tipped tail fin poking out of the water. As I get ready to cast out to it, my fly line gets tangled on something!” 

But spirits remain high among the family. “It won’t sound very gangster, but what you will hear a lot, while fishing, or doing anything with us, is ‘blowing raspberries,’ every time something stupid happens, which is a lot,” says Rod.

Even as they blow raspberries, the three have only praise for the versatility of dedicated fishing kayaks as a platform for their favored sport. Whether it’s the ability to get in to hard to reach shallow waters, the spacious comfort and stability their kayaks have to offer, or the bolt-on rod holders on their seats, the Toad Fish Mafia have found the boats that best fit their individual needs, and the needs of their team as a whole. 

“I sound like the worst candidate for kayak fishing,” claims Rod, reflecting on his back problems, “but I have found that with the right kayak, and the right setup, I can fish all day with no stress in plenty of comfort. It took a bit more of an investment, but in the end, it has been well worth it. Modern fishing kayaks really do open doors for folks who don’t traditionally have the physical ability to be a typical kayaker or fisherman.” 

“My fisherman’s paradise is wherever I am.” -Casey Grobelny

As for advice the Toad Fish Mafia would offer prospective kayak anglers of all stripes, the three agree that research is key. “Learn what your preferred style of kayak is first,” offers Casey, “Don’t be afraid to rent a few different types… It wasn’t until I tried many different boats at Trusty’s Demo Day that I really appreciated the strengths of the Old Town Sportsman PDL 120. While I can guarantee that you can walk out of Trusty Sail & Paddle with an excellent boat, it’s up to you to walk out with your favorite boat.” 

Johnnie concurs, “I spent the better part of 6 to 9 months researching kayaks… before pulling the trigger on my PDL 120.” He continues, “Just go to Trusty!” 

The family also stresses the security of kayaking together. “Get out there and start making connections with folks and have a great time,” says Rod, “in addition to Toad Fish Mafia, there are also a couple of other local kayak fishing groups on social media run by other Trusty ProStaff, so I recommend folks joining those, to help meet folks and get on the water.”

“Don’t kayak alone if you can avoid it,” Johnnie agrees. 

Promoting the A.D.B.F. Lifestyle

Going back to the concept of the Toad Fish Mafia as a family, Rod extends the invitation, “Anyone can be a part of the Toad Fish Mafia if you share our values for fishing etiquette and our passion for fishing… The Toad Fish Mafia family has no size limit or minimum experience required.”

“Check out our website for more info,” says Johnnie. 

“There isn’t a sandbar [Johnnie] hasn’t hit.” -Rod Olsen

Trusty Sail & Paddle is so grateful to have these knowledgeable, conscientious, and endearing young men affiliated with our shop. As ProStaff, as customers, and as friends, we are honored to highlight the Toad Fish Mafia and help spread the message of A.D.B.F. Thank you, gentlemen!