Fishing Influencer Ordered to Remove Shark Photos from Social Media
A judge has ordered a New York fishing influencer known as the 'LI Sharkman' to remove social media content featuring a great white shark he illegally caught and dragged onto a Cape Cod beach.
Christopher Stefanou, 30, of Massapequa, also known as the "LI Sharkman," was charged with multiple offenses including cruelty to animals, fishing for shark, mechanical deployment of bait, attempting to capture a shark, and possession of a protected species.
Stefanou and his crew allegedly used illegal fishing equipment, including a drone, to capture a tagged great white shark nicknamed "Aaron" in October 2025. The shark was being monitored by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy. Authorities were alerted after Stefanou posted videos online of himself and others with the shark before releasing it.
During an arraignment on Wednesday, Stefanou was ordered to remove all images and videos of the shark from his social media accounts. He was also required to surrender his fishing license and is barred from entering Massachusetts. His bail was set at $10,000, and he is scheduled to appear in court again on December 11.
