Charleston, SC (June 28, 2024) – Free Fly, a leading fishing, outdoor, and lifestyle apparel brand from Charleston, South Carolina, is excited to announce their latest additions to their growing Ambassador Team: Captain Benny Blanco, a South-Florida based fly fishing guide and conservationist, and sportfishing Captain Paul Sonnen of the Florida Panhandle and Bahamas. Both guides, who share Free Fly’s deep-rooted passion for fishing, will join Free Fly’s growing Ambassador Team.
Blanco’s fervent passion, hard-work ethic, and relentless spirit drive his work in and outside of the water. In addition to being a full-time fishing guide, Blanco spends his hours advocating for Captains for Clean water, a nonprofit working to restore and protect aquatic ecosystems for the use and enjoyment of all. After witnessing a spike in hyper salinity that caused significant damage to the Florida Bay, Blanco became a committed conservationist fighting to to lobby for water rights in Tallahassee and D.C. over the last decade.
Blanco shares, “When I was 8 or 9, I was introduced to the Everglades. And my entire life changed. I didn’t want to be anywhere else. I didn’t want to do anything else. I wanted to be in the glades” he continues, “I’m excited to partner with a brand like Free Fly that shares my chase for a life spent immersed in the outdoors.”
With 26 years of guiding under his belt, Blanco brings a wealth of knowledge of the industry and a deep rooted passion for protecting the water and people that surround him while championing more inclusivity in the guiding space. As a father of three, his authentic and enthusiastic pursuit of protecting outdoor spaces and waterways for the next generation aligns seamlessly with Free Fly, as a family-founded brand empowering life’s best moments outdoors.
For Sonnen, his love of the ocean captivated him at a young age and has since shaped his career and values. He shares, “I love how the sport of fly fishing instills in me that there is always more to learn and I look forward to working and growing with Free Fly in the industry.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Benny and Paul to Team Free Fly and continue building out our relationships in the broader fishing community,” shares Director of Brand Marketing, Harrison Lindsey. “Their commitment to giving back to the people, organizations, and lands in their communities excites our team as we continue to expand our initiatives in conservation, humanitarian, and next-gen spaces.”
For more information regarding Free Fly Apparel and their growing Ambassador Team, please direct inquiries to Hannah Miller at Hannah.Miller@purpleorangepr.com.
