In Punta Gorda, Florida, a heated altercation between a young fisherman Gage Towles and charter boat skipper Brock Horner of Tarpon Coast Fishing Charters was captured on tape
In less than a day, the video of the incident, which was posted on Facebook by 22-year-old Gage Towles, has received over 5 million views.
In the footage, Gage Towles is seen fishing by himself when a second boat approaches and the men on board start interrogating him about using safety lights. They charge Towles with neglecting to switch on his boat’s lights just before sunrise. In response, Towles asserts that he did switch them on and notes that the lights of another boater near the bridge were off. The incident took place on 1 April, 2025 at 5:00am.
Who Is Captain Brock Horner of Tarpon Coast Fishing Charters as video of him threatening Gage Towles in Charlotte, Florida harbor goes viral
Brock Horner approaches the boat of Gage Towles while yelling obscenities, intensifying the altercation. Before entering Towles’ boat without authorization, Horner, who introduces himself as a war veteran and charter captain, says, “I’m the best charter captain you will ever meet.”
Towles continually says, “I don’t want to argue,” and “I’m just a kid,” in an attempt to defuse the situation. Horner keeps shouting in spite of this, so Towles drives off with Horner still in the car. After that, Towles does a full loop to drop him off at his own boat.
Captain Brock Horner is a sixth-generation Floridian and the owner of Tarpon Coast Fishing Charters, operating primarily in the Sarasota, Charlotte Harbor, Boca Grande and Tampa Bay areas. He has 25 years of fishing experience and as per Florida arrest records, Horner has been arrested 12 times.
Horner is a graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University and a US Army Ranger veteran, having served as a paratrooper during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom and is certified in CPR, AED and Pediatrics, and is part of the Wounded Warriors alumni association.
Between 2003 and 2008, while Brock Horner was a student at the University of Florida, he had multiple arrests, including felony battery and possession of a weapon on school grounds and other charges during this period included DUI, driving with a suspended license, and multiple probation violations, with bonds ranging from $500 to $1,000.
Following his time at the University of Florida, Horner faced further legal issues as in 2010, he was arrested for disorderly conduct, followed by a DUI charge in 2014. In 2016, he was charged with violating probation or community control.
Reactions of netizens
The individual was recognized by peopleon social media as Tarpon Coast Fishing Charters’ Captain Brock Horner. His actions were attacked by a number of commenters, some of whom demanded that his captain’s license be cancelled.
“I’m so sorry he did this to you. His name is Capt. Brock Horner and this is absolutely disgusting of him!” one person commented.
Another wrote, “You shouldn’t have apologized for something you didn’t do at all. Brock Horner needs to get his license taken away and get his boat taken away too!”
According to a statement from the Punta Gorda Police Department, the US Coast Guard, FWC, and Punta Gorda Police are all looking into the event.
The April 1, 2025, altercation between two adult boaters beneath the Barron Collier Bridge is known to the Punta Gorda Police Department. The event is still being investigated, and a police report has been submitted to the department.