Living “Jaws”

The enthusiasm was at very high levels at the Star Island Yacht Club this weekend, where a group of professional adventure providers were getting ready for their own adventure dream coming true. The All-Star Rod and Gun Club of North Port, Florida had six of its senior members and founders gathered to gear up for Sunday’s fishing excursion under the supervision of Frank Mundus.

Sean and Brooks Paxton, brothers and founders of the All-Star Rod and Gun Club were back in Montauk to complete the dream of fishing with Frank that had to be scrapped last year due to Hurricane Cindy. Last year was the 30th anniversary of the release of the movie “Jaws” for which Frank Mundus was the real life inspiration. Members here for the adventure were Dave Kops, Jim Adam, Tom Larkin, Scott Paxton and founders Sean and Brook Paxton.

Older brother Sean explains that he believes that fishing with Frank will be, “the next best thing to shooting TVs with Elvis.” Frank Mundus added that that might be true because, “Elvis is harder to find.” Brother Brooks is the kind of guy who is always “knocking on the door” of adventure, whether fishing, or even in the mode of nightlife. The boys have had their adventures all over the world and describe Montauk to be very much like Yakatut, Alaska, another drinking town with a fishing problem. While out fishing, filming will be done for a future project, perhaps a reality show. Running around the dock at Star Island with a video camera rolling was Brooks’ and Sean’s mother Diane who quite frankly looked more like their sister than mother. The boys are free agents and were out all over Montauk enjoying free agency. So what is the All-Star Rod and Gun Club?

Sean calls it an organization that creates “adventures centered around fishing at all the dream destinations in rock and roll style.” It seems the boys, who are also musicians, have played with the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. However, the boys also have some real estate ventures in Florida that are successful and finance their fun. Other activities the boys do is land based shark fishing with the bait set out from kayaks to draw the sharks to the beach. (I asked them not to do this at Ditch Plains for the benefit of a few surfer friends of mine). They do release the sharks after tagging them. Brooks says they enjoy land-based shark fishing in places in Texas and Florida. Next year Sean says the Club is planning a trip to Alaska to catch Salmon Sharks.

Frank Mundus, who is always ready to sign a copy of his book, “50 Years A Hooker,” calls the All-Stars a group of “first class idiots.” For this, all of the boys are very proud. The “idiots” have all painted their toenails red and green, a Mundus tradition. Frank is back in Montauk again. For twenty years Frank was in Hawaii and has returned to Montauk, where he has spent the past two years. Saying that he has been “treated good,” he sees Montauk more crowded and claims the waters off Montauk have fewer fish. He was wearing a tee shirt that advertised fmundus.com, his website. Quite frankly, no pun intended, Frank looked so much younger than 81 years old. He was funny, insightful, but still all Montauk. He has stared some huge sharks in the eye when the results of the encounters were still in doubt. He is proud of his record-setting white sharks, one weighing 3,427 lbs brought in only with a rod and reel. And of course the record 4500 lb plus one that he landed with harpoons and barrels “just like in the movie “Jaws.”

Describing themselves as “salt of the earth people,” Sean is full of passion when it comes to fishing and adventure. Brooks is full of passion when it comes to enjoying all aspects of life. He could not contain his excitement talking about this topic, jumping up out of his seat to make certain points. One point was that now a visit to Montauk in August is going to happen every year. The boys have a web site and can be reached by phone by dialing 941-416-1788. They are ready to help you or your group put together fantasy fishing or hunting trips in a style that you wish. They promise it will be special and fun and with results. What else could one want?

Every year Montauk has first time visitors who for some reason vow to return. Sean and Brooks Paxton have returned to complete their life long wish of fishing for sharks with their hero and friend Frank Mundus off Montauk in August. It is amazing how many dreams do come true in Montauk in a summer.