“I came up with the concept of Anti-Douche Bag Fishing. Our motto for having a fun day on the water.” — Johnnie Gray
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 the organization speaks to this ethos: We support A.D.B.F. (Anti-Douche Bag Fishing). 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, co-founder Rod “Rawd” Olsen became flustered by the endless onslaught of toad fish, and developed the idea of a joke fishing team specializing in the pesky species. Taking a liking to the name, co-founder Johnnie Gray suggested its adoption for what the family ultimately became.
Johnnie Gray — also known as Dr. Shoals, the Enforcer, and the getaway driver of the Mafia — is a local to Carteret County and an expert waterman. Having grown up on the Crystal Coast 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. “I am fortunate to live on the water and have a view of the outer banks.”
Rod Olsen, aka the Rodfather, acts as team captain for fishing tournament purposes and 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 line of “Toad Fish Mafia Tackle.” Custom accessories, 3D printed seat risers, and TFM tackle prototypes line Rod and Johnnie’s kayaks. Over his twenty years living on the Crystal Coast, Rod has come to make saltwater fishing his own.
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 footprint 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.
All three men pilot dedicated Old Town fishing kayaks. Rod fishes two top-of-the-line Sportsman Autopilots — a 120 and a 136 — the latter bearing 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. “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.”
The turf of the Toad Fish Mafia is undoubtedly a paradise. At the crown of the barrier islands lies Cape Lookout, a favorite destination of the crew. “It looks like some tropical paradise,” reflects Rod, “I plan to fish around there for as long as I am able.” Reflecting on his most memorable catch, Rod recalls a perfect cast along a deep grassy cut near Slocum Creek — the result of years learning to read bait movement, water structure, and current flow — that ended with a nice overslot redfish and his most prideful moment as an angler.
Things don’t always go perfectly for the Toad Fish Mafia. Casey still remembers the one that got away — a tailing redfish, blue-tipped tail fin poking out of the water, foiled at the last moment by a tangled fly line. But spirits remain high. “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.
As for advice to prospective kayak anglers, the three agree: 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.” Johnnie concurs simply: “Just go to Trusty!”
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.”
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.
