Today I’m joined by Pat Mundus, a retired ships’ officer and one of the most respected mariners on the East End. Born and raised in Montauk, Pat grew up surrounded by working boats, wild weather, and the tight-knit community of people who make their living from the sea. Though her father, the famed shark fisherman Frank Mundus, looms large in local lore, and in the popular imagination, Pat charted a very different course, building a maritime career entirely on her own terms.
As one of the few women at SUNY Maritime during her time there, Pat went on to spend nearly twenty years as a deck officer aboard oil tankers, sailing global routes and gaining experience that shaped both her seamanship and her leadership. When she eventually returned home, she founded East End Charters, creating a company that not only brings people onto the water but helps connect them to the maritime heritage of the North Fork and the East End.
In our conversation, we talk about her life at sea, her commitment to mentoring women in the maritime trades, and why conservation and community matter so deeply to her. We also explore her views on the health of our bays, the evolution of the East End, and the traditions worth carrying forward as the region continues to change.
