Boating Bros Drag And Mock Shark While Filming Its Misery

Published July 26, 2017
Updated July 10, 2019

Florida authorities are now investigating the incident in an effort to determine whether or not the men responsible should face charges of any kind.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BW7_3spDXOG/

Even “The Shark Hunter” isn’t ok with this video.

Yesterday, Florida fisherman Mark “The Shark Hunter” Quartiano shared footage of several men pointing and laughing as they drag a shark caught on a fishing line behind their high-speed boat. When sharing the video on Instagram, after it had been sent to him via direct message, Quartiano stated, “CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WTF IS GOING ON HERE ???? … FOR ONCE I MAY HAVE TO AGREE WITH @PETA.”

Quartiano added that the video had been sent to him on Monday by two Instagram users known as @bearjew428, an account that apparently no longer exists, and @MICHAELWENZEL, an account listed as private.

Now, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is investigating the video and looking for the men responsible, according to a statement given to ABC News. Officials added that they’re taking the video “very seriously,” despite not yet being sure if any violations had actually taken place.

Violations or no violations, the video shows several men mocking a shark somehow caught on a fishing line by its tail, causing the animal to flail about and crash into the water as the motorboat zips along at an as yet unidentified location.

“Look, it’s already almost dead,” one man can be heard saying.

Ultimately, Quartiano claims that the men behind this video sent him photos (which he has not shared) of the shark’s bloodied body after it had been dragged into the boat.

“It was quite disturbing on my end,” Quartiano told ABC News. “I’d never seen something like that before.”

It remains unclear whether or not the shark died. However, at least one source, CBS Miami, claims that the shark had indeed perished.

Still, the FWC is not yet sure what, if any, laws have been broken.

But while the FWC may have not yet reached a conclusion, the court of public opinion has, with countless among the video’s 11,000 commenters agreeing with Quartiano that this behavior is, as he told CBS, “horrifying.”


Next, see recent video of a man catching a shark with his bare hands. Then, view new footage from two daredevils who recorded very up-close video of a great white shark flailing in shallow water.

author
All That's Interesting
author
A New York-based publisher established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science to share stories that illuminate our world.
editor
John Kuroski
editor
John Kuroski is the editorial director of All That's Interesting. He graduated from New York University with a degree in history, earning a place in the Phi Alpha Theta honor society for history students. An editor at All That's Interesting since 2015, his areas of interest include modern history and true crime.