Important notice from Capt. Ron Hamlin

[Marlinhunter2]

Dear Friends,

As many of you already know, as of December 1st I have resigned from my position as captain of the Captain Hook with Pacific Fins. I have extended a 60 days notice to existing Pacific Fins clients giving you the opportunity to fish with me if you desire to do so.

Fortunately, my new adventure is only a few yards down the dock. As of February 1st, I will be at the helm of the Buddy Boy, a 43’ Merritt that many of you remember as the "Sansouri", later the "Prowess" and "Nany". The Buddy Boy is one of the eight classic gameboats in the Casa Vieja fleet.

Jim Turner and Casa Vieja lodge exemplify the best in fishing, accommodations and service you have grown to expect in Guatemala. You will recognize many familiar faces from the old Fins ‘n Feathers days. It’s good to be home again!

Please check us out on the web at www.casaviejalodge.com or www.southfishing.com for rates and availability. I’m looking forward to fishing with you again.

Tight lines,

Capt. Ron Hamlin

[Captain Fred Archer]

Ahhhh, Merritt! Classic, sweet, great, fish-catching boats. Used to ride Chunda with Barky and Stewart years ago and fell in love with the Merritts. Good luck with the new ride, Ron. Feed her plenty of billfish.

[Marlinhunter2]

Hi Fred, this gameboat is the same from which Maudi Lopez caught her world record Atlantic Blue Marlin and Ron was its captain. She's been re-powered with Cummins and re-furbished and we expect her out of the yard in late January.

Casa Vieja Lodge fleet has eight gameboats:

Cañaso - 1967 - 37' Daytona - Capt. Chico Alvarenga
Intensity - 1988 - 37' Gamefisherman - Capt. Mike Sheeder
Release - 1961 - 37' Merritt - Capt. Nico Melendrez
Spindrift - 1998 - 38' Stolper - Capt. Nicho Alvarenga
Buddy Boy - 1974 - 43' Merritt - Capt. Ron Hamlin
Finest Kind - 1983 - 40' Whiticar - Capt. Erik Lorentzen
Rum Line - 1989 - 40' Gamefisherman - Capt. Chris Sheeder
Twenty - 1955 - 40' Rybovich - Capt. Jason Brice

[Questsportfishing]

That 'Pompano Pounder' will be good to ya! best of luck with the new / old boat! how are you guys doing on tuna now?

[Marlinhunter2]

Tuna - not many now. Sails are in. Capt. Chris Sheeder on the Rum Line had 42 sails and three blues over the weekend. One of my English anglers had 17 sails in one day last week, with Capt. Mike Sheeder on the Intensity

[Questsportfishing]

looks like someone here in ft lauderdale is re-building we pass her on the cut-off loop canal... Sounds like you cats are doing great down there... happy holidays to ya!

[Captain Fred Archer]

Wow, wow, wow! Look at all of those great gameboats! And a list of hotshot captains too. Very damned impressive.

When I built my baby I made her a 36 (38 centerline) and tried to design in many of the things I learned about from the Chunda boys and that sweet machine of theirs. Only thing was, I couldn't come up with that two speed tranny that made Chunda actually plane fast in reverse. That turned out to be okay, especially since most of my customers couldn't crank anywhere near fast enough to keep up with that kind of backdown speed, to say nothing of how fast Archer got going southbound - even with me up in the tower yelling "wind, wind, wind, damnit!" (Dang, I sure wish I could learn to be more polite!)

Again, I wish you luck as well as that neat fleet and all of those other fine captains...not that any of you need it.

A shot of my baby at rest down Cabo way and one of her big azzed 'pit, where me and super mate Julio were prepping for a tuna tournament (that we won, and on one engine for a day and a half of it! Proving, of course, that even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while!) Look closely and you will see the real owner of the boat, my black Lab pup Shadow Girl trying to help me out, as usual. I never left the dock without her and if you didn't want a Labby along on a charter, I didn't take you. The few who didn't like the idea much at first wound up wanting to take her home with them when I came down out of the tower, where I spent the entire day except for the run home. By then, Shadow Girl had stolen their hearts.

The boat was named after my beloved parents, not me.

Again, thanks for the info on a great fleet. I'll be sending some folks your way for sure.

[Marlinhunter2]

I'll pass along your good wishes to Ronnie.

[FESS]

Fished next to you years ago when u were on the Marauder(?)....wasn't that a Merritt too....I think Flash was with you part of that year....u had a few trips with Burgess Thomas from Betram dealership Miami.
I remember when flash got a leader (mono or wire...can't remember) under his glove and tore some flesh to the bone almost.

Glad you'll be happy Ronnie...I gotta get u to sign a few of your books some day!
Allen

[Questsportfishing]

where can I get 1 and will you sign it? thats cool as hell! hopefully you have something about st. thomas in there!