Long Island Angler Indicted in Great White Shark Capture on Cape Cod
A Long Island fishing-content creator has been indicted on animal cruelty and multiple fishing-law violations stemming from the alleged capture of a tagged great white shark off Cape Cod in October 2025.
Christopher Stefanou, known online as "LI Sharkman," was arraigned October 21 in Barnstable Superior Court following a Barnstable County grand jury indictment. Bail was set at $10,000.
According to Cape and Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois, Stefanou and a fishing crew spent several days fishing along Cape Cod's eastern shoreline with a European client, allegedly seeking to capture a great white shark. Prosecutors contend the group used a drone to deploy bait, brought the shark onto a beach for photographs and subsequently returned it to the water.
The shark, identified as "Aaron," was a male approximately 9.5 feet long that had been tagged by researchers in 2024. It is included in the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy's White Shark Logbook, which documents individual sharks and their movements through acoustic tracking.
Investigators reportedly became aware of the incident after Stefanou posted video of the expedition on social media. Prosecutors cite the footage as evidence of the alleged violations.
The indictment includes an animal cruelty charge and several alleged violations of Massachusetts fishing regulations, including illegal shore-based shark fishing, possession of a prohibited shark species, unlawful attraction and capture of a white shark, and use of a mechanized device to deploy bait.
The case involves Massachusetts regulations adopted in July 2025 to address shore-based shark fishing. Those rules prohibit the use of drones, bait cannons and remote-controlled boats to deploy bait while shore fishing. Kayaks and kites remain permissible methods.
Additional restrictions apply to designated portions of Cape Cod Bay and the Outer Cape, where certain hook-and-leader combinations and associated chumming practices are prohibited.
White sharks are a protected species in Massachusetts and cannot be retained. Any white shark caught incidentally must be returned to the water immediately, using procedures intended to give it the best possible chance of survival.
The distinction between an accidental encounter with a protected shark and deliberately targeting or capturing one is central to the prosecution's allegations.
Stefanou's attorney has denied that his client intentionally pursued a great white shark. The defense maintains that he was fishing for sharks generally and that the animal was safely released. His attorneys have indicated they intend to contest the charges.
Following his arraignment, the court imposed several conditions on Stefanou's release. He must surrender his fishing license, remain outside Massachusetts except for court-related purposes, and refrain from fishing, boating or operating drones in Massachusetts waters. He also may not advertise fishing activities in Massachusetts waters.
The court further ordered him to remove videos related to the allegations and refrain from publishing additional material concerning the case.
The prosecution has drawn attention to the role of social media in documenting fishing activity and potentially providing investigators with evidence of alleged violations. The case also highlights the increasingly detailed restrictions governing shore-based shark fishing in areas where protected species are monitored by researchers.
Stefanou's next scheduled court appearance is December 11, 2026. The charges remain allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.