You’ve probably seen the clip. It starts with a quiet morning on the water and ends with a 40-year-old man jumping onto a 22-year-old’s boat, screaming that he’s the "best charter captain you’ll ever meet." It’s jarring. The Brock Horner viral video didn't just trend for a day; it sparked a massive conversation about "on-water rage," maritime law, and how quickly a reputation can vanish in the age of the smartphone.
People are still dissecting the footage frame by frame. Honestly, the most shocking part isn't even the yelling—it’s the moment of physical boarding. In the boating world, your vessel is your castle. Crossing that line is a legal nightmare.
The Incident: April 1st in Punta Gorda
It happened under the Barron Collier Bridge in Punta Gorda, Florida. Gage Towles, a young fisherman, was minding his own business when a larger boat carrying several men pulled alongside him. The man at the helm was Brock Horner, owner of Tarpon Coast Fishing Charters.
Horner was livid. He accused Towles of failing to use safety lights before dawn and "cussing him out" earlier that morning. Towles, clearly confused and visibly shaken, kept trying to de-escalate. "I'm just a kid," he says in the video. He even offered a nervous apology for things he didn't actually do, just to get Horner to leave.
It didn't work.
The situation peaked when Horner stepped across the gunwale and onto Towles’ boat. At one point, police say Horner even grabbed the younger man’s shirt. Towles eventually had to drive his own boat away with Horner still on it, later circling back to drop the captain off at his own vessel.
The Fallout: Arrests and Investigation
The internet moves fast, but the Punta Gorda Police Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) moved faster. Within days of the video hitting Facebook and YouTube, Horner was arrested.
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He was hit with a serious charge: burglary with assault or battery.
Why burglary? Under Florida law, entering a conveyance (like a boat) without permission to commit a crime inside—in this case, the alleged assault—fits the bill. It’s a felony.
The consequences were immediate:
- Tarpon Coast Fishing Charters vanished from the internet.
- Local hubs like Fisherman’s Village cut ties.
- Horner’s attorney, Scott Weinberg, released a statement citing Horner’s status as a 100% disabled combat veteran with a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Weinberg was clear that the military history wasn't an excuse, but it provided context for the "moment of frustration" that boiled over. Still, for the fishing community, the damage was done.
Why This Hit Such a Nerve
There is a weird, simmering tension between charter captains and recreational boaters. Captains are under pressure to put clients on fish; they feel they "own" the spots. Recreational boaters just want to enjoy their Saturday.
When those two worlds collide, things get ugly.
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The Brock Horner viral video became the poster child for this conflict. It wasn't just about lights or profanity. It was about the perceived entitlement of a professional "gatekeeping" public waters. Interestingly, the video was actually the second encounter between the two that week. Police reports later revealed that just two days prior, Horner had allegedly sped past Towles under the same bridge, nearly swamping his boat.
The Mistaken Identity Nightmare
Social media justice is often blind—and sometimes it hits the wrong target.
A different captain named Brock Wagner, who lives about 100 miles away, started receiving death threats. People didn't check the last name. They just saw "Captain Brock" and "Florida" and started dialing. Wagner had to send his wife out of town for safety while he worked to clear his name.
It’s a sobering reminder: viral videos tell a story, but they don't always give you the right phone number.
Lessons for Boaters
If you find yourself in a confrontation on the water, the legal experts and seasoned guides have a few specific tips.
First, keep the camera rolling. Gage Towles’ decision to record is the only reason there was enough evidence for a felony charge. Without that footage, it’s just a "he-said, she-said" story between a veteran captain and a "kid."
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Second, don't engage. If someone is screaming, the best move is to pull your lines and move. It sucks to lose a fishing spot, but it’s better than a physical altercation in the middle of a river.
Lastly, know your rights. In most states, "fisherman harassment" is a specific offense. You have a right to be there. But you also have a responsibility to use your lights and follow "no-wake" zones.
If you are ever in a situation where someone tries to board your vessel, that is a Tier 1 emergency. Get to a crowded area or a fuel dock immediately and call the authorities.
The legal case against Horner is still winding through the courts as of early 2026. Whether he retains his captain’s license or serves significant time remains the big question for the Florida fishing community.
To stay safe, make sure you've brushed up on the latest Florida FWC boating regulations and consider installing a fixed-mount dashcam on your center console.
Next Step: You can look up the official Punta Gorda Police Department's public records on the case or check the FWC's latest guidelines on "vessel boarding" to understand your legal standing during a dispute.