06/25/2025
🦈June marks the 50th anniversary of Jaws, the original summer blockbuster that made everyone think twice before taking a dip. While the film was set in the fictional Amity Island and shot in Martha’s Vineyard, the real-life inspiration came from just down the Shore—a string of deadly shark attacks in 1916 near our own backyard: Matawan, Spring Lake, Beach Haven… and yes, Asbury Park was right in the mix.
The book’s author, Peter Benchley, was a Jersey guy (Princeton roots, writing in Pennington), and the salty, unforgettable character of Quint was based in part on Frank Mundus, a legendary fisherman from Long Branch who ran charters out of Brielle. If that’s not enough Jersey cred, Roy Scheider (aka Chief Brody) hailed from Orange, and even victim #3, Ben Gardner, was played by Craig Kingsbury, born in South Orange.
⭐️But let’s not forget the real star - the shark. It’s important to remember sharks are vital ocean caretakers. Without them, marine ecosystems fall out of balance. Sadly, their numbers are crashing—thanks to bycatch, pollution, and the brutal shark fin trade, where fins are cut and the rest is discarded (often while the shark is still alive). That’s not just cruel—it’s catastrophic.
So this summer, while we rewatch Jaws with popcorn in hand, let’s also protect the real stars of the sea. A healthy ocean means a healthy planet. That matters—for Asbury Park, for our fishers, for all of us.
Happy 50th, Jaws. And long live the sharks. 🌊
