PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — An apparent “boat rage” incident caught on video is spreading fast on social media after it was posted by a 21-year-old fisherman in Punta Gorda.
It happened Monday night under the Route 41 bridge between Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda on the Peace River. That’s when Gage Towles has his chest camera recording when a charter captain, whom we’re not naming unless he gets charged, accuses Towles of previously boating without lights on and using a gay slur against the captain one recent morning before dawn.
“You have to have lights on!” the man shouts, referencing a law that requires navigation lights be on in the dark and during low visibility. “If somebody hits you, guess what the f*** happens. You die, nothing happens to me.”
“You ran right through the middle of the bridge while we were all fishing,” Towles replies, referencing another law that requires boats idle when they pass under most bridges. “My lights were on.”
Towles is alone on his boat, while several others are with the captain who asks Towles if he wants to fight.
CAPTAIN: “You wanna f***ing go?”
TOWLES: “I don’t wanna f***ing go, I want you to get the f*** out of here.”
CAPTAIN: “Dude, all these f***ers know I’m a tough, m*****f***er. We’re all f***ing war veterans. We’re all [Army] Rangers and you’re gonna talk s***.”
TOWLES: “Well, thank you for your service, bro. Thank you for your service, bro, but that doesn’t give you the right.”
The argument goes back and forth for minutes before the captain escalates as the boats float toward each other.
CAPTAIN: “I’m the best charter captain you will ever meet in your f***ing life.”
He boards Towles boat.
TOWLES: “Alright, bro! Chill, bro! Chill, bro! Please, bro!
CAPTAIN: Don’t hit the f***ing throttle.
Towles shuts off the throttle and they bob in the water.
TOWLES: “Please! Bro, I’m a kid, bro! Please!
CAPTAIN: “Apologize!”
TOWLES: “I’m sorry, bro! I’m sorry, bro!”
Towles turns his boat around, the captain gets off and then leaves. In 24 hours, the video has been shared thousands of times and viewed millions more across social media.
The captain ends the encounter by saying, “You’re lucky I didn’t come onto your boat and f*** you up. Do it again and watch what f***ing happens,” before another man tells him, “Get back on this boat.”
Punta Gorda police are now investigating, confirming to 10 Tampa Bay they’re working with FWC and the U.S. Coast Guard on possible charges. The police report filed on Tuesday says the possible charge being investigated is trespassing.
Both the fisherman and the captain didn’t reply to our requests for comment.