| John Mitty Wednesday, July 10, 2013 |
From Monster Shark Fishing to Saving Them, Montauk Sports Fishing and Conservation Revealed in Catching-Tagging, Film, Music, Exhibits, Special Guests
Before Peter Benchley, author of “Jaws,” died in 2006, he said, "Knowing what I know now, I could never write that book today. Sharks don't target human beings, and they certainly don't hold grudges." And Frank Mundus, the Montauk charter boat monster shark fisherman and team that harpooned a 4500 pound great white and on which the book is based, pleaded for the use of circle hooks, regretting ruthless practices and became a conservationist.
Boat team entries to Shark’s Eye, the historic satellite shark tag tournament, are filling up but there is time to apply, reports Carl Darenberg, owner of Montauk Marine Basin, one of the organizers.
Shark’s Eye unites fishermen, scientists, conservationists, educators, musicians and artists, to present a tournament where all sharks caught are released and only circle hooks are used. Eligible mako, thresher and blue sharks are fitted with satellite tracking tags, which monitor their movements after release. The anglers who catch them are named by Montauk school children. The public can follow these fish online via the OCEARCH Global Shark Tracker.
Newly added to the fun and excitement for the entire family all weekend long is musician MariGrace Dineen, who is appearing with Caroline Doctorow and Colten James on Saturday, July 27, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Gosman’s Dock. The outdoor concert is free.
On Saturday, July 27 at the Marine Basin from noon to 5 p.m., for children of all ages, two Guy Harvey films are played, “This is Your Ocean Sharks’ and “Tiger Shark Express,” followed by “the Shark Brothers,” Brooks and Sean Paxton’s film "Rich History - Priceless Future, the Tarpon of Boca Grande Pass".
On Sunday, July 28, noon to 5 p.m. at the Marine Basin, shark attack survivor Scott Curatolo-Wagemann is joining the program. Other presenters are from Riverhead Foundation of Marine Preservation and Conservation, Peconic Bay Keeper, and, Nancy Kohler of National Marine Fisheries Services. Brooks and Sean Paxton present “Sharks, from Fear to Fascination!” Also shown are the images and exciting accounts from the previous day’s fishing, and shark tagging.
In addition to the boat team competition, the public can be in the action as an official Tournament Observer. Visit sharkseyetournament.com and call or email your request.
Shark’s Eye Background
Today the great apex predators of the ocean face extinction, and so do the charter boat captains who catch them.
That’s why Carl Darenberg, owner of Montauk Marine Basin, artist April Gornik, and the Concerned Citizens of Montauk, working with the Montauk Boatmen, Inc., the Montauk Chamber of Commerce, Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, OCEARCH, the Shark Brothers, and Mote Marine Laboratory are proud to present Shark’s Eye.
All sharks caught in this tournament are released and only circle hooks are used. Eligible mako, thresher and blue sharks are fitted with satellite tracking tags, which monitor their movements after release. The anglers who catch them get to name three tagged sharks, and a fourth is named by Montauk school children. The public is able to follow these fish online via the OCEARCH Global Shark Tracker.
In 1951 a young Frank Mundus settled in Montauk and got the idea to offer charter fishing for sharks. Nobody paid much attention to him. But by the time Mundus and team harpooned a 4500 pound great white, in 1964, anglers were paying serious attention, as well as a writer named Peter Benchley. The movie “Jaws” was released in 1975 and everybody wanted to come to Montauk to go Monster Fishing for sharks. Big money tournaments started to take hold.
Cut to the late 1990’s, when disturbing videos started to appear. Sharks were shown being finned alive by foreign commercial fishermen. They were being killed not by the thousands, but by the millions, to provide fins for shark fin soup for the growing Asian market. Shark populations started to decline, and by the mid 2000s were no longer sustainable.
To ensure a highly competitive, exciting and informative event for both anglers and the general public, in addition to satellite tagging of certain fish, a system of best practices and modern catch and release protocols have been engineered into this tournament format to maximize the post-release welfare and survivability of all sharks caught during this competition. These methods include the mandatory use of inline circle hooks to help prevent internal hooking, heavy tackle and line strengths to reduce a shark's time on the line, and other specific handling procedures designed to ensure angler safety and healthy shark releases. Anglers and Observers will receive personal training on these methods, prior to competition.
The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF) is providing $10,000 in prize money and April Gornik is providing an original work of art to the winner.
All profits from this tournament go to the Montauk Boatmen (MB), Montauk School, Montauk Chamber of Commerce and Concerned Citizens of Montauk (CCOM)
For information contact Carl Darenberg, yachts@optonline.net, 631-668-5900, or sharkeseyetournament.com.
jmitty@longislandyellowpages.com Appears In: Local Events , Press Releases
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