Frank Mundus Frequently Asked Questions

1. When and where were you born?
2. When did you start shark fishing?
3. Why did you start shark fishing?
4. What did you think about the movie Jaws?
5. Is it true that the shark hunter "Quint" in Jaws is based on you? In what ways does he resemble you?
6. Were you on the USS Indianapolis?
7. Did you have any close calls with sharks?
8. Do you fear or respect great white sharks?
9. What was the biggest great white shark you ever caught?
10. What was the largest great white you have caught on a rod and reel?
11. Do you think there are megalodon-sized sharks out in the deep?
12. Did you ever see a great white shark stick its head out of the water  when you were chumming?
13. What's the strangest thing you ever found inside a shark's stomach?
14. Did you ever find any human remains inside a great white?
15. How large was the boat you used for shark fishing?
16. How many great white sharks did you catch during your career?
17. What are your hobbies?
18. Do you have any unusual pets?
19. Have you ever appeared on any TV shows?
20. When will your autobiography be available?
21. Are you going to put out a shark photo album?
22. When will your autobiographical documentary be aired on TV?
23. What is your nickname for tourists and gawkers on the dock?

1. When and where were you born?
   Long Branch, New Jersey, in 1925.
2. When did you start shark fishing?
   In 1951, off Montauk (Long Island), New York.
3. Why did you start shark fishing?
   I started shark fishing as a joke and called it "Monster Fishing" to attract customers.
4. What did you think about the movie Jaws?
   It was the funniest and the stupidest movie I've ever seen because too many stupid things happened in it. For instance, no shark can pull a boat backwards at a fast speed with a light line and stern cleats that are only held in there by two bolts. And I've never boiled shark jaws. If you do, you'll only end up with a bunch of teeth at the bottom of your bucket because the jaw cartilage melts.
5. Is it true that the shark hunter "Quint" in Jaws is based on you? In what ways does he resemble you?
   Yes, he was. He knew how to handle the people the same way I did. He also used similar shark fishing techniques based on my methods. The only difference was that I used hand held harpoons after field-testing harpoon guns and discovering that they didn't work: the dart would pull out after hitting the fish.  
6. Were you on the USS Indianapolis?
   No.
7. Did you have any close calls with sharks?
   I had a lot of close calls. Probably too many close calls. I was lucky and didn't have any injuries. The only accidents on my boat happened to customers and were not shark-related: they were two broken ankles and some fish-hooked fingers. 
8. Do you fear or respect great white sharks?
   I respect white sharks, but I'm not afraid of them. Whenever one got away, I felt that he had won the game. This is where I respected him. After all, it is just a game we're playing.
9. What was the biggest great white shark you ever caught?
   A 4,500-lb. great white which we caught commercially (by harpoon) in 1964.
10. What was the largest great white you have caught on a rod and reel?
    The 3,427-lb. white shark. Donnie Braddick was the angler.
11. Do you think there are megalodon-sized sharks out in the deep?
    It's possible, but not probable because if there were, somebody, apart from Chief Brody, Quint and Hooper(!), would have seen them.
12. Did you ever see a great white shark stick its head out of the water  when you were chumming?
    Yes. A few times. I talk about one incident in my book Monster Man.
13. What's the strangest thing you ever found inside a shark's stomach?
    A bunny rabbit.
14. Did you ever find any human remains inside a great white?
    No. But I did find a business card once. Believe it or not, it was one of mine that had gotten eaten by a blue shark. I had put the card in a can of my chum the night before at the communal dock freezer. When I opened up the shark's stomach, out came the business card!
15. How large was the boat you used for shark fishing?
    My boat, the Cricket II, is 42 ft.
16. How many great white sharks did you catch during your career?
    Around seven.
17. What are your hobbies?
    Aggravating people; growing fruit trees and vegetables; cooking.
18. Do you have any unusual pets?
    Arnold Boar
19. Have you ever appeared on any TV shows?
    Yes. I appeared on three David Letterman shows (two in 1983 and one in 1986, a Larry King show (in 1984) and a bunch of others TV shows. For more info see TV appearances.
20. When will your autobiography be available?
    My autobiography is called "Fifty Years a Hooker" and it's available now. Check my website for online ordering info Buy Fifty Years a Hooker online.
21. Are you going to put out a shark photo album?
    Yes. It will be a 36-page photo story on the capture of the 3,427-lb. white shark off Montauk in August 1986.
22. When will your autobiographical documentary be aired on TV?
    Sometime later this year, hopefully. Keep checking this website for updates.
23. What is your nickname for tourists and gawkers on the dock?
    Dock Rats. Just like real rats, they'll chew you out every chance that they get!