Bizarre Encounter on the Water: Fishing Enthusiast Threatened by Boat Captain
PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — A day of fishing took a troubling turn for a young man in Florida when he faced aggressive behavior from a boat captain, an encounter that has since gained widespread attention on social media after being captured on video.
Fisherman’s Routine Disrupted
Gage Towles, a 22-year-old avid fisherman, has been engaged in the sport since he was five years old, spending nearly every day on the water pursuing his passion. “It’s what I live for. Every bad day that I have, you go fishing, and you don’t remember the bad days,” Towles shared, reflecting on the joy fishing brings him.
Unsettling Incident on the Water
On April 1, Towles enjoyed a routine fishing trip when the day turned chaotic. Captain Brock Horner of Tarpon Coast Fishing approached Towles’ vessel, leading to a confrontation that escalated to a threatening situation.
“Ultimately, he did slowly inch his boat up to me and, yeah, when he jumped on my boat, that’s when it went from, you know, me just brushing this guy off to now fearing that I was going to die,” Towles recounted.
A Hostile Encounter Highlights Safety Concerns
This wasn’t the first instance of aggressive behavior Towles noted. He reported witnessing Horner’s hostility towards him and a friend days prior, during which Horner cursed at them about not using navigation lights—despite their assurance that their lights were functioning.
Towles described the experience as deeply unsettling, emphasizing that it would not deter him from his love for fishing. “I’ll still be chasing the fish every single day,” he stated. “I love to fish. It’s my passion. It’s everything. It’s what motivates me to get through life.”
Investigation Underway Following Apology
In light of the incident, an official police report has been filed, and authorities have launched an investigation. Following public outcry from the video, Horner has issued an apology through his attorney, though further details remain absent as the inquiry unfolds.
As the situation develops, Towles remains focused on his passion and the serene moments that fishing provides him, undeterred by the unsettling encounter.
