The Making of
MONTAUK
Fishing Capitol of the Northeast
by Captain Bill Smith
H
aving been fortunate to have fished in spots all over the globe, I can safely say that no place offers the diversity of fishing that Montauk does. Whether catching snappers lurking off a dock in late summer, striped bass feeding on the seemingly endless schools of bait off Montauk Point, or blue marlin swimming well offshore, Montauk offers something for all types of fishermen. But it took years of exploring, promotion and awareness by some very colorful and determined local characters to not only define the fishing Montauk offers but also to bring the seemingly endless masses of people to the beaches, docks and boats year after year in search of their favorite species. Carl Darenburg Jr. and his family moved to Montauk in 1932 looking for a better life. His father and a good friend purchased a 1929 Matthews sport fishing boat the following year with all the money they had, naming the new boat Fortenate after the day’s experiences. When World War II broke out, Carl Jr., in his late teens, left Montauk and joined the Navy Seabees to build bases, airstrips and other facilities in the South Pacific. He also participated in
the Normandy invasion, where, because of his boat handling ability, he captained landing crafts, putting troops ashore and going back for more. After the war, Carl Jr. returned to Montauk to make his mark and found the Fortenate in storage in Sag Harbor because of wartime fuel rationing restrictions. His father gave Carl the boat, and she was soon commissioned as a full-time charter boat at the new Montauk Yacht Club. Carl soon got married, started a family, and used his Seabee training to start a marine construction business with his friend Bill Weit. Their timing was perfect, as Montauk was on the rise. One of their first jobs was to move the Coast Guard station then located on Napeague into growing Montauk Harbor. In 1955, a defining moment in Carl Jr.’s life took place. A small marina, the Montauk Boat Basin, came up for sale. Carl and Bill scraped, borrowed and, with help from their families, were able to raise the money to purchase it. With their knowledge of boats, and ability to build docks and bulkheads, the Montauk Boat Basin grew a little each year. Soon, Carl bought out his friend and partner Bill Weit, and the business became a complete family affair, with Carl handling the boats,
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CAPTAIN’S SEASIDE GUIDE 2013
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