Long Island Fishing Influencer Barred from Massachusetts After Shark Incident
Fishing influencer Christopher Stefanou, known online as LI Sharkman, has been barred from entering the state of Massachusetts following an alleged illegal shark-catching incident on Cape Cod.
Details of the Incident
- The Suspect: Christopher Stefanou, 30, a fishing influencer from Long Island (Massapequa), New York.
- The Date and Location: October 2025 off Marconi Beach in Wellfleet, Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
- The Shark: A 9.5-foot male great white shark named Aaron, who had been previously tagged and monitored by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.
- The Allegations: Prosecutors state Stefanou and his crew used prohibited equipment—including a drone for mechanized bait deployment—to lure and capture the protected shark, dragged it onto the beach, posed for photos, and posted footage on social media.
Legal Charges and Court Orders
Stefanou was indicted by a Barnstable County grand jury and arraigned in Barnstable Superior Court on October 21, 2026, pleading not guilty through his attorney:
- Charges Faced:
- Cruelty to animals (which carries a potential sentence of up to seven years in prison)
- Illegal shore-based shark fishing
- Unlawful mechanized deployment of bait
- Attempt to capture a white shark
- Possession of a protected species shark
- Bail and Restrictions:
- Bail was set at $10,000.
- He is barred from entering Massachusetts except for court appearances.
- He must stay out of Massachusetts waters (no boating, fishing, or using drones).
- He was ordered to surrender his fishing license.
- He was ordered to delete social media images and footage of the incident.
- Next Court Date: December 11, 2026.
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