Shark-fishing tourneys thrive despite protests



The Associated Press • June 13, 2008


More than 100 miles east of Manhattan, out past the Hamptons — the last stop before Ireland, as the locals joke — sits a tiny village where thousands of people converge at the docks on summer evenings to ogle at and revere the massive creatures brought back from the sea.

Montauk remains an epicenter for shark fishing tournaments, a half-century after legendary shark hunter Frank Mundus practically invented the sport and became the inspiration for the Captain Quint character in ``Jaws.''

Despite annual protests from animal advocacy groups who decry the events as inhumane, the tournaments are thriving. For the first time, this weekend's Star Island Yacht Club tournament is boasting $1 million in prizes.

The event is one of the most popular tournaments, with nearly 250 boats competing last year and some contestants hauling in sharks that topped the 350-pound mark. Mundus, who retired to Hawaii nearly two decades ago, is promising to be at the event, where he will be signing his books and selling souvenirs.

But he will not be the only Montauk visitor this weekend. Protesters will also be there, along with airplanes flying overhead with anti-shark fishing banners trailing behind.

For several years, the East Hampton Group for Wildlife, with backing from the Humane Society of the United States, has held protests near the site of the Star Island tournament. Similar complaints echo at shark tournaments around the country.

William Crain of the East Hampton Group for the Wildlife plans to join protesters again this year, denouncing what he calls ``glorifying the killing of sharks. ... I don't like to see any animal abused or suffer needlessly. There is no reason to kill sharks.''

"It is time for a change in the way we view sharks and their protection,'' said John Grandy, senior vice president of wildlife programs for Humane Society.

Rich Janis, the general manager of the Star Island Yacht Club, contends the protests are unwarranted, because federal fishing regulations limit the daily catch to one shark per boat. He also noted there are minimum weight requirements that require many of the sharks to be thrown back if they are too small.

Last year's Star Island tournament had 244 boats contending for $715,000 in prize money over two days, he said. In the end, only 44 sharks were brought into the docks, while 325 were caught and released. He also said 1,200 pounds of shark meat was donated to the Long Island Council of Churches to supply that organization's local food pantry programs.

The Rev. Thomas W. Goodhue, executive director of the council of churches, said he has been urged by animal rights groups to reject the donations, but said no. Another Long Island food bank did agree not to accept shark meat after being contacted by the Humane Society.

"Telling us `don't accept free food' is a tough issue,'' Goodhue said.

Locals also brush aside the protests by pointing out that shark fishing is such a rich part of Montauk's history.

"I don't think there's much to (the protests),'' says Stret Whitting, president of the Montauk Boatmen & Captain's Association. ``I've never seen more than a handful of people out there protesting.''

Whitting first came to Montauk with friends in the '60s, and encountered Mundus, the legendary shark hunter. Whitting hired Mundus to take him shark fishing several times and he was hooked.

"Mundus was the guy that started it, and this was before `Jaws,''' Whitting recalled. "He was the guy that got it going and made it popular.''

When he retired in 2002, Whitting and his wife moved to Long Island's eastern tip, where he now captains his own charter boat.

"God put these creatures on the Earth for man to eat; not to be abused, but to eat,'' he contends. ``I think fishermen and hunters are probably the most conservation-minded people you will meet.''

Star Island may be the biggest shark tournament in Montauk, but hardly the only one. Many weekends throughout the summer feature tournaments run by various organizations.

Carl Darenberg, owner of Montauk Marine — which has run a tournament for 38 years — says the events provide an economic boost. ``The fact is these tournaments bring in a lot of money,'' he said. ``When you think about dockage fees, fuel, bait, motels and restaurants, people are spending money.''

Whitting said because of its location between New England and the warm southern waters, Montauk provides anglers with an incredible variety of targets, which is why it claims to be the "fishing capital.''

"You not limited out here,'' he said. ``At certain times, you can go after marlin or tuna; other times there are bluefish, bass, blackfish, fluke, seabass, porgies.

"You can go out fishing for anything.''