How social media videos are boosting attention — and business — for this P.E.I. eel fisher

Ricky Clow has been learning what it's like to be an eel fisher on Prince Edward Island and sharing what he's learning on social media, giving a look behind the scenes to a curious audience online. Ricky took over from his grandfather Victor this season. Well my grandfather he fished for 72 years doing the eels and his health wasn't the best this year so I was given the opportunity to take it over. Ricky comes from a long line of fishers in his family and fishes lobster in the spring season. He's also a marine mechanic but this is his first year doing eels full time. Just one year versus 70 years of experience is quite the difference but yeah we could be doing a little better but we sure could be doing worse. I put the license over into his name so I said go at it and try it see what you can do. The way I started so you have to start the same way. The eel season runs from the end of August to late October. Victor says his grandson did not bad for his first time. And he gives him this advice. Lots of hard work and keep it up. I'm getting up. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. Ricky has added a new twist this season. He wears special glasses that record videos. Videos that have gone viral. Out of eels, I had one where an eel escaped on me, and that's at over a million and a half. During lobster season, I have a couple that passed 50 million themselves. That's a good idea, I guess. It's not my line. I don't even have a cell phone. I The videos have helped in another way, helping Clow to find customers. don't It wasn't for my videos, and I applied for a peddler's license and got that, so I'm able to sell it to the public. If it wasn't for that, I don't think I would have sold an eel yet. Clow says he's learned a lot in his first season know. and has big plans for the future. What I'm hoping is that we'll be able to get new markets, not just for myself, but for all the other eel fishermen on the island, because things are just fair, and it would be nice to be able to market them kind of similar to PEI lobster, PEI eels. It would be nice. Ricky Clow says he will do his best to follow his grandfather's advice and keep growing the family eel business. Nancy Russell, CBC News, Pleasant Grove.