Marco Code Magistrate Fines Shark Fishing Businessman 

Marco Island shark fisherman David Boggs drew attention from critics and code enforcement as he offered a land-based charter for people to experience shark fishing off South Beach, Marco Island.  

The controversial activity, with drones and large fishing poles setup with long fishing lines stretched across the beach before and after sunset, led to Marco Island Code Enforcement citing Boggs for failure to have a City permit to operate a business off the beach.  

In December, Code Enforcement Magistrate Robert Pritt imposed a $200 fine on Boggs after a hearing regarding Bogg’s August 12, 2024 notice of violation of city ordinance 54-36.1 requiring a business on Marco’s beach to be permitted by the City. 

Boggs represented himself and cross-examined city officials in front of the special magistrate on December 17. He is no stranger to the news, drawing attention in previous years for court cases related to alleged failure to complete roofing contracts in storm-struck areas in multiple states. Boggs currently awaits court determinations in Kentucky regarding alleged embezzlement of nearly $200,000 from a church in LaRue County Kentucky for alleged failure to complete a roof construction project on a church there.  Marco Island Police Department arrested Boggs on those charges on October 29, 2024, in coordination with Hodgenville Police Department of Kentucky. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 22. 

Marco Island beachgoers and City officials have been eyeing Boggs for his shark fishing practices, including not having permits to operate a shark fishing business on Marco Island’s beaches throughout much of 2024. 

“Marco Island Sharks was in fact advertising shark fishing charters off the beach,” said Captain David Ennis of the Marco Island Police Department during the December code hearing.  

The city was receiving many complaints about the shark fishing, said Ennis.  

“We were getting complaints that a business is being run. At no point did he chum. Each and every time we went out, people had said they had chartered him,” Ennis said. 

Chumming is opening a bag of blood into the water to create a shark-feeding frenzy and is banned near a beach. 

Many people accused Boggs of chumming and other violations of city code and state statutes related to fishing, including those that would be enforced by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, according to City and Collier County records.  

However, Ennis noted that the violation observed by Marco Island city officials was operating a business for profit on the beach without a city permit to do so.  

Through fall, MarcoIslandSharks.com listed prices for charters to go shark fishing at the beach with various rates, Ennis said.  

Since then, a Google listing and Instagram account show prices of $650 for a charter with Marco Island Sharks, Ennis said. At one point, a website listed a price of $750 for a six-hour shark adventure on Marco Island beach, he said. 

The name of the business has changed in recent months, Ennis said.  

Marco Island Coastal, LLC was doing business as Marco Island Sharks, which closed in August and was then established as Marco Island Coastal.  

As of January 13, MarcoIslandSharks.com says: “This site is under construction” and lists a local phone number to call.  

"I can run a business in Collier County, and I can call it whatever I want. I live in Marco Island.  

I’m going to call it that,” said Boggs. 

Boggs told the magistrate that he stopped charging for shark fishing charters on Marco Island beaches as soon ascity officials requested that he stop.   

“I said I would cease the operations that violated the beach code. We did that,” Boggs said. 

“I can run a guide on any (county) beach. I’m from Marco Island. I live here. It’s a social page, not just a business page,” said Boggs regarding his social media accounts, t-shirts, and flag with the text “Marco Island Sharks.”  

“Yes, I have social media listings. Yes, there’s a Google listing, but we fish all of Collier County,” said Boggs to the magistrate.  

Attorney Joe Natiello of Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman, addressed the magistrate on behalf of the City. 

"Your honor, we’ve established clear and convincing evidence there is a business here on Marco Island,” Natiello said.  

“You’ve seen evidence Mr. Boggs is still running a fishing charter on the beach of Marco Island. He’s operating a business without a permit. He has no permit. That’s in violation of City code,” Natiello added. 

Marco Island Community Affairs Director Daniel Smith also spoke on behalf of the city against the non-permitted shark fishing business operated by Boggs.   

“Nobody likes shark fishing,” said Boggs. "Well plenty of people like it, but this is really about the politics of it,” Boggs countered.  

The initial violation was issued by John Negra of code enforcement.  

“I tried to appease the situation,” said Boggs.  “I came across a political stonewall,” he said. 

Marco Island condominium owners created and circulated an online petition to put an end to the shark fishing on Marco Island. The petition was launched in March 2024 and has garnered 3,391 signatures, some as recently as January 2025.  

Pritt ruled in favor of the City of Marco Island and considered the penalty, stating that the city’s recommendation was for a $250 violation plus $50 more for the cost of prosecution.  

“$250 is the maximum allowable unless it’s a repeat violation. This was not cited as a repeat violation,” said Pritt.  

Pritt lowered the total amount due to $250 instead of $300. This included a $200 fine and $50 to cover City costs.