Frank Mundus

For other uses, see Mundus (disambiguation).
Frank Mundus
Mundus in 1978
Born(1925-10-21)October 21, 1925
Long Branch, New Jersey, US
DiedSeptember 10, 2008(2008-09-10) (aged 82)
Honolulu, Hawaii, US
OccupationFisherman
Known forInspiration for the character Quint in Jaws
SpouseJeanette Mundus

Frank Mundus (October 21, 1925 – September 10, 2008) was a fisherman and charter captain based in Montauk, New York who is said to be the inspiration for the character Quint in the book and movie Jaws.[1][2] He started out as a shark hunter but later became a shark conservationist. Up until his death, he chartered out his boat Cricket II for those seeking the thrill of big game fishing.

Mundus' early techniques, which included killing whales merely for chum and harpooning sharks (practices which are outlawed today), earned him criticism even at the time. In the last few years of his life, Mundus campaigned for shark fishermen to catch and release their prey, even going as far as to publish a conservation book titled White Shark Sam Meets The Monster Man.

Mundus died on September 10, 2008, in Honolulu due to complications from a heart attack he suffered on September 6,[3] the day he returned home to Hawaii after spending the summer in Montauk.[4] According to his obituary he spent the last night in Montauk aboard the Cricket II which made him famous and had his heart attack in the Hawaii airport immediately after returning.

  1. ^ Hevesi, Dennis (2008-09-16). "Frank Mundus, 82, Dies; Inspired 'Jaws'". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  2. ^ Carlson, Michael (2008-09-19). "Obituary: Frank Mundus". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  3. ^ "'Jaws fisherman' Frank Mundus dies". The Daily Telegraph. 15 September 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  4. ^ Hevesi, Dennis (16 September 2008). "Frank Mundus, 82, Dies; Inspired 'Jaws'". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 May 2018.