US apparel brands raise $41,000 for guides hit by Hurricane Ida

Award-winning US apparel brand AFTCO and its stablemate, Marsh Wear, have raised over $41,000 to support fishing guides affected by the devastating Hurricane Ida that swept through coastal Louisiana.

The two companies donated the profit from an entire day of online sales to the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) Worldwide Anglers Relief Fund (WARF). We were blown away by the customer response in their support of the guides and outfitters in the region,” said Marsh Wear founder Logan Roberts. He added that the $41,642 donation has been earmarked to specifically address the challenges faced by the fishing community in Louisiana.

Hurricane Ida swept through Louisiana and continued to the Northeastern United States, leaving a wake of devastation in its path. One local guide said: “I don’t even know where to start. It is a logistical nightmare right now. You currently have to drive three hours west of my home for fuel. Lots of us lost our rods and the contents of our homes. We have tons of debris in our yards, ranging from 60ft trees to other houses.”

WARF was created by IGFA and Costa Sunglasses in 2017 to address the catastrophic impact that natural disasters have on captains, guides, crews and outfitters who depend on the recreational fishing industry for their livelihood. To date $140,000 has been distributed to angling associations in the Florida Keys, Texas, Puerto Rico, Florida Panhandle and Bahamas.