The international fishing community is mourning the loss of renowned Guatemalan Captain Haron Valdez (37) who passed away last Monday, May 25th, due to a massive heart attack.

Captain Haron Valdez started working for Ron Hamlin in 1994 when he brought  the Gypsy to Guatemala from Costa Rica. Haron later worked as a mate on the Captain Hook and helped deliver the boat to Guatemala in 1996. He then moved on to become the Captain of the Magic where he set the one-day record of 22 releases on fly.

Valdez later ran the Captain Hook when Ron Hamlin was out of the country or needed days off. On the Captain Hook he set a new one-day record of 83 sailfish on bait, which was later broken by Ron himself. For the 2007 - 2008 season, Haron ran Pacific Fin's 35 Cabo, Hooked Up and consistently achieved the highest marks of the fleet for customer satisfaction.

Haron had extensive billfishing experience which he shared with others, he was a great fisherman, a great friend with a jovial and outgoing personality and he'll be missed deeply.