<P> Mundus moved to Montauk in 1951 saying he wanted to start charters for bluefish . In his first year at Montauk he played an important role in the rescue and retrieval of the Pelican, an overloaded party boat in which 45 of 64 on board perished after capsizing in a squall, including its captain Eddie Carroll . He was among the second wave of searchers, and helped tow the hull of the Pelican to port with ten dead bodies still trapped inside . The disaster was the worst in Montauk recreational history and led to numerous laws regulating the industry . </P> <P> Mundus soon discovered that bluefish were not plentiful but the sharks were in the Montauk waters . </P> <P> Mundus started what he called "Monster Fishing" with boats leaving the port at Lake Montauk . Mundus with his colorful character became immediately popular . He further helped his reputation by catching a 4,500 pound white shark by harpoon (the weight was estimated without the shark having been weighed). In 1986 he and Donnie Braddick caught a 3,427 - pound great white about 28 miles off Montauk, and only 18 miles from Block Island, which still holds the record, not only for the largest shark, but for the largest fish of any kind ever caught by rod and reel . The capture of the shark was controversial at the time, with some saying the shark was feeding on a whale when caught (which would have negated the so - called "official record"). The International Game Fishing Association ruled that the catch was legitimate based on photographs . </P> <P> In 1991 the U.S. Coast Guard said that Mundus' license had expired and he had to reapply . He initially attempted to sell the Cricket II and moved to Hawaii . The sale did not go through although the boat would be operated by others . He officially retired as a charter captain in 1997 . In the years before his death he would come back to Montauk for its shark tournaments and would ride along on higher priced Cricket II excursions . He died in Hawaii shortly after returning from Montauk . </P>

Biggest fish ever caught with a rod and reel