Long Island shark hunter may have inspired 'Jaws' character, whitewashing claims surface as film turns 50

Frank Mundus, known for catching giant sharks off Montauk, is believed to be the inspiration for Jaws’ Capt. Quint.

As Jaws marks its 50th anniversary, attention is turning to Long Island’s own Frank Mundus—the man many believe inspired the iconic character of Capt. Quint. Mundus, a larger-than-life shark hunter from Montauk, is said to have heavily influenced the role portrayed by Robert Shaw in the 1975 classic.

“Anybody who knows anything about fishing knows that it’s based on him,” said Pat Mundus, Frank’s daughter to New York Post, adding that locals long recognised his impact on the story that reshaped shark lore forever.

Photo: NYP

Known for hunting massive sharks and branding himself a “monster fisherman,” Mundus often performed stunts to draw attention—including staging the discovery of a “sea monster” in a waterproof casket.

Though Spielberg’s Jaws is set in the fictional Amity Island, it was Peter Benchley’s encounter with Mundus aboard his boat, Cricket, that many credit as the source of the character’s creation.

However, Mundus was never officially recognised, which his family views as erasure. “He crafted his image over decades, and then someone just used it without credit,” Pat said.

Frank Mundus passed away in 2008, but his legacy endures. His 1986 capture of a 3,427-pound great white shark with Donnie Braddick remains legendary. A replica still draws crowds at Sam’s Star Island Marina.

Photo: NYP