A Multimedia Guide to The Hooker
On our second trip to Casa Vieja Lodge we unexpectedly ended up on The Hooker, their then-newest boat. It’s a 48 foot G&S, and a fabulous fishing platform, but at the time we didn’t realize that it held a storied legacy. Since it was built, the boat had achieved 87 world records as it traversed the oceans, mostly with its mothership the Madam. We didn’t know how lucky we’d been to get that opportunity and we hope to fish on her again.
That opportunity still presents itself, and as you plan your trip to Guatemala take note that even the other lodges furtively admit that CVL has the largest and best fleet, so there’s a proper vessel for any group and their budget. If you think that The Hooker might be for you, but you’re still on the fence, there’s a wide range of media that might put it over the top.
Of course, there’s the book, “Tales of a Hooker and Her Madam,” written by Captain Skip Smith. Check out an excerpt from Marlin Magazine.
Capt. Skip Smith was also on the Mill House Podcast several times.
The following articles tell the story from the point of view of those who were there:
And world-renowned photographer Jessica Haydahl Richardson, whose husband Wade captained The Hooker for a period of time, has ample shots of the action that took place during that tenure.
Finally, there’s solid YouTube evidence that’ll keep you busy for hours. Here are some of our favorites:
Of course, the boat (like all of those at CVL) is extremely popular and books up far in advance, so if you’d like to take your shot with her, reach out to Hanna today and she’ll get you squared away.
