While the story of Jaws remains fictional, its roots run deep in Montauk lore. Captain Quint, the grizzled shark hunter from Peter Benchley’s 1974 novel and Steven Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster, was said to be loosely based on Frank Mundus, Montauk’s larger-than-life shark fisherman. Mundus made headlines after hauling in massive sharks off Montauk’s shores—most famously a giant great white in 1964 that is believed to have sparked Benchley’s imagination.

Benchley even spent time on Mundus’s boat, the Cricket II, and many of Quint’s gritty traits and Montauk-flavored backstory are thought to have been lifted straight from Mundus himself. While Benchley often downplayed the connection, Montauk locals—and even the author in private—acknowledged the undeniable parallels.

Now, as Jaws marks its 50th anniversary, the bond between this cinematic legend and Montauk’s heritage feels stronger than ever. This collection celebrates that shared history, where myth and reality meet on the edge of the ocean.