What kind of shark was it?

[livetofishnj]

Mundus was definatey crazy, for those who haven't read "In the Slick of the Cricket, I think it's out of publication but they're on the auction sites all the time. Even has pics of him standing on a dead whale feeding gret whites. And he obviously proved that some of the biggest sharks in the world pass through the NY Bight.

As for the debate about whether the Matawan shark was a bull or a white, like I said it's a fact that remains in hot debate 100 years later, but a white was caught in the bay and it did have human tissue and the "11-inch shinbone of a boy" within it's digestive tract. The shark which was captured by Micheal SCchleisser a chief animal trainer for Barnum and Bailey's and an amateur taxidermist and his friend Robert Murphy in a net being dragged near Sandy Hook. The shark which was "dark grey with a white belly" was 7-1/2 feet long and weighed 350 pounds when it was brought back to South Amboy. (quotes from "It Happened in Nw Jersey" by Fran Capo). I fully believe that it was a white and also understand from talking to people that Matawan creek was much larger and deeper than it presently is. In the last 100 years lake leffort which feeds the creek has been dammed and what was once a railroad trestle, has now become a fully built viaduct which greatly constricts the flow of water and tide, though there is stilla 5+-foot swing in the area.

[Jared D]

That sounds like a pretty wild video Jared D it would be awsome to see it.

Its on VHS... I could send a copy to someone if they could get it on here. I just am ignorant at doing this kinda stuff.

[gman]

Hey gman, I hear that they are not uncommon off long island and Montauk(They're looking for Mundus). What a site huh?

Yeah it was something I will never forget. Its like seeing a famous person that you hear about all the time but never see in person LOL. except it will eat you !!! Ive caught some huge fish in my lifetime but man that damn thing was so wide it was off teh charts and it wasn't a huge one like 20' or something. But we were in Johns 30' boat and it was atleast half the size. he looked at me and said "get the baits out now" ha ha I really wanted to drop one on its head just to feel the pull even for a second but all John fishes with is 30's so that was a no go!!

[fightingcouch]

Mundus has some great stories i spent a lot of time talking to Mundus at the dock this past summer i learned allot talking to him. The stories that he has are just amazing i couldn't even imagine them being able to happen in these days. The guy is a walking museum for fishing great guy.

[Tunaman 1]

I was lodging in Overberg, which is in cape town S.Africa, in 2004 while on a safari when they were filming that clip with him off of seal island for the discovery channels Shark Week. He was a pretty big celebrity there. That trip really changed him.

[Deep C]

To answer the original question. Yes there are great whites off NJ as well as Bakings. This year I saw two whites and three baskings. Last white before this year was a couple years ago in the mud hole airing out. Common? No but yest they are there. This year there were quite a few confirmed sightings.

As for Matawan Creek. Yes there was a white taken in Raritan Bay but the attacks do sound far more like a bull. My wife is from South Africa and one of my lure companies was based there so I spent a load of time there. Have had some pretty extensive contact with the magnificent ones. Though I have seen a couple moderately agressive ones the bulk were placid and disinterested in anything we did or had to offer.
Getting one to take a bait is actually pretty tough. Funny fish, they ignored tuna, albacore etc., but were responsive to a couple sardines the one time we actually fished for them.

[fishpicker]

I think you boys are jonesing to see some of my girls !!!!!

I bet if we ask the great one Mister Admin, really really nice he'll show us some footage.

Yes there are plenty of Whites here it is salt water and they have no laws. You'll know the first time that you see one !!!!!

[boatliftman]

8 years ago i was on a longline boat and caught a small great whit, about 6 feet i almost gaffed it,not on purpose, i did not realize what it was at first, they are here in local waters without a doubt