![\"Independent](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1792704614_798_Independent+Membership+White.png\")
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today.<\/p>\n
Join today<\/a><\/p>\n \n Already a member? The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the US<\/p>\n A New York<\/a> YouTuber has been accused of targeting and capturing a great white shark<\/a> on Cape Cod.<\/p>\n Angler \u200bChristopher Stefanou allegedly took a European<\/a> client onto the eastern shores of Cape Cod<\/a> to capture the shark as part of a days-long trip in October last year. \u200bKnown as LISHARKMAN on social media, Stefanou has more than two million subscribers on YouTube<\/a>. <\/p>\n Stefanou posted footage to social media showing the men using a drone and other equipment to capture and drag a great white known as \u201cAaron the Shark\u201d onto the beach, Cape & Islands District Attorney Robert J. Galibois says. <\/p>\n The group photographed themselves with the animal before releasing it, prosecutors added. <\/p>\n \u200bA year later, on October 21, Stefanou was arraigned in the Barnstable Superior Court, where his bail was set at $10,000. <\/p>\n He faces a slew of charges, including animal cruelty to a shark, fishing for shark, mechanical deployment of bait, attempt to capture a shark, and possession of a protected species shark, prosecutors confirmed.<\/p>\n Stefanou has been ordered to surrender his fishing license and remove the video of the shark<\/a>, as well as being told to stay out of Massachusetts<\/a> unless for legal reasons.<\/p>\n \u200bIn a statement given to CBS News Boston<\/a>, Stefanou\u2019s attorney, Jon A. Ciraulo, said that his client maintains that he is innocent.<\/p>\n \u200b\u201cThere can be no question that Chris respects the sport, actively participates in conservation practices, assists in marine tagging and research efforts, and volunteers his time to educate enthusiasts on safe and responsible angling,\u201d Ciraulo said. <\/p>\n \u201cThe charges against Chris are allegations only. He maintains his innocence and intends to fully challenge the allegations against him.\u201d<\/p>\n Stefanou, from Long Island, is next due to appear in court on December 11.<\/p>\n In one video<\/a> posted to his channel, he can be seen pinning a sand tiger shark to the ground while removing a hook with just his hands. \u200bIn another, he can be seen capturing an alligator in Florida.<\/p>\n \u200b\u201cHe is an extremely passionate angler who specializes in Land Based Shark Fishing on Long Island, New York, but often ventures out to different states along the east coast (sic) of the U.S.,\u201d Stefanou is described on his website<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cHe also books private land-based shark fishing charters for anyone interested!\u201d<\/p>\n \u200b\u200bMassachusetts law states that great white sharks<\/a> are a protected species and that fishing for them is prohibited. Boaters and anglers are banned from intentionally luring, churning or attempting to catch the sharks.<\/p>\n \u200bCape Cod is the only great white shark aggregation site in the western North Atlantic Ocean, something driven by the large local population of gray seals.<\/p>\n
\n Log in<\/a>\n <\/p>\n![\"Evening](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/usEveningHeadlines1_1.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Aaron-the-Shark.png\")
A New York man has been accused of dragging Aaron the Shark (pictured) onto the shore after capturing him in Cape Cod (White Shark Logbook)<\/p>\n![\"Christopher](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-(3).png\")
Christopher Stefanou has over 2 million subscribers on YouTube and often posts videos of himself with sharks (Facebook\/Chris Stefanou)<\/p>\n![\"Great](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/istock-511992494.jpg\")
Great white sharks (stock image) are a protected species in Massachusetts (Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n