Tag Archives: The Cricket II

Famous boat now calls the Crystal Coast home

The Cricket II was built in 1947 for Captain Frank Mundus who in 1978 Newsweek magazine was called “the most celebrated shark fisherman in the world.”  Mundus fished out of Montauk, N.Y. for 50 years, specializing in the hunt for sharks, in particular great white sharks.   It was no coincidence that the “Jaws” character, Capt. Quint, bore much resemblance to the real-life Capt. Mundus. Capt. Joe DiBella of Morehead City has quite a history with the Cricket II. Joe says, “My history with the Cricket II began when I was 8 years old. I fished on the Cricket II out of Montauk, N.Y. with my father and first captain Frank Mundus.” >click to read< 10:31

“JAWS” boat restored, takes veterans fishing out of Beaufort

Cricket2ProjectIn the 1960s and 70s, author Peter Benchley fished for sharks aboard the Cricket II, a boat that fished out of Montauk, N.J. back then. Benchley then wrote the movie Jaws, in large part based on his experiences on the 42-foot vessel. The Cricket II is now based out of Beaufort and captained by Joe DiBella, and with its new home comes a new purpose – taking disabled veterans on fishing trips, at no cost to them. Their goal of “enriching the lives of Disabled Veterans and Wounded Warriors with fishing adventures aboard the Cricket II” has been aided by numerous sponsors and donors who helped with extensive restorations to the boat. Read the article here 14:54