Montauk Captains Bring in Winners at Shark Tag Tourney

After two days of shark fishing, it was a 377-pound mako that won the 43rd annual Montauk Marine Basin Shark Tag Tournament.

Montauk Charter Captain Churck Mallison brought in the winner, caught by Rich Lipari, of Katonah, NY, on the "Joy Sea" on Saturday afternoon at 3:15 p.m.

Overall, there were 160 anglers competing for the $50,000 pot in the tournament, according to organizer Carl Darenberg. Twenty-one of the sharks landed qualified, including 15 mako, two thresher, and four blue sharks. Darenberg said 74 sharks were tagged and released.

Darenberg said four of the winning sharks were brought in by Montauk charter captains.

The second largest shark caught was a 295-pound mako, brought in on Montauk Captain Pete Casale's "My Mate." Angler Ray Ristau's catch was the leader on the first day of the tournament.

Coming in third was a 292.2-pound mako brought aboard "Montrachet." The vessel's captain was Tony Froitzhein, of Florida, and the angler was Peter Pappas, of Mattituck.

The largest blue shark, brought in by Captain Mike Epright, of Killingworth, CT, on "Pension Plan," weighed 239 pounds. Randy Epright, of Westport, CT, caught the big blue.

Captain Tom Cusimano's "Sea Wife" — another Montauk charter boat — brought in the second heaviest blue shark at 233.6 pounds.

A 219-pound blue shark came in third, caught by Jim Dalento, of East Haddam, CT, on the "White Hawk."

The largest thresher caught this weekend weighed 231-pounds. Angler Joe Mole hooked it aboard Captain Peter Brancaleone's "Fish On."

Coming in second place in the thresher category was a 226.2-pound shark brought in on Captain Rob Aaronson's "Oh Brother," another local boat, on Friday. Joe Uglialoro was the angler.