Montauk Tournaments Featured on NBC Sports' Shark Hunters
Montauk’s Star Island Yacht Club Shark Tournament was featured in back-to-back premiere episodes of NBC Sports Network’s new 60-minute show Shark Hunters on Wednesday, July 31.
The remaining four episodes of this six-part documentary series will air Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on NBCSN through the month of August. Three Northeast shark tournaments will be featured in total, including the Star Island tournament in episodes one and two, the 43rd Annual Montauk Marine Basin Shark Tournament in episodes three and four, and the 27th Annual Monster Shark Tournament in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts in episodes five and six.
Five captains, including local boy Anthony Giorgio, battle rough conditions, the sharks and each other to land the biggest shark in the six episodes. Their bios, as written on nbcsports.com are listed below.
Captain and Owner Peter “Pete” Brancaleone of Fish On – Pete has been offshore fishing for more than 20 years, and has won more than $600,000 in fishing tournaments. He previously captained the 62-foot sport-fishing boat Volatility.
Captain and Owner Gary Savard of the Tiger Shark – Gary has 23 years of tournament fishing experience, and started fishing in the Montauk Marine Basin Shark Tag Tournament. He placed first from 1993-95, won for tagging the most sharks six times and has received more than $500,000 in prize money, in addition to more tag and release awards.
Captain Paul Hiller of the Crack Oar – Paul has been fishing offshore for more than 30 years. On land, Paul owns the Hiller Sports hunting and fishing retail store and gun range.
Captain and Owner Anthony “Chaos” Giorgio of the Omertà – Anthony has fished the Star Island Yacht Club Shark Tournament six consecutive years, and calls the Star Island Marina home base when heading offshore.
Captain David O’Halloran of La Bella Donna – David’s La Bella Donna is a multi million- dollar, high-tech fishing boat. On land, David runs Pinegrove Ranch and Family Resort in Kerhonkson, NY.