‘What we think as ordinary is pure gold’ to tourists

Making the transition from lobsterman to tour boat operator has been quite the experience for Capt. Perry Gotell, owner/operator of Tranquility Cove Adventures (TCA) in Georgetown, P.E.I.

“If you don’t say hi to someone when you go into the post office, don’t get into this business,” advised Gotell during a presentation at the Fishing for Opportunities information session in Lower West Pubnico, Yarmouth County, on March 12. “You really have to be a people person. They have to automatically become our friends when they come on the boat.”

A third-generation lobsterman, Gotell started his business in 2007 putting together the adventure package to become a cork for a day, as nubbins or deckhands are called in P.E.I.

For $100 per person — or $200 if you wanted the allyou-can-eat lobster deal —

Gotell would take up to four people with him and his crew lobster fishing for the day. After getting them geared up and a safety course, they would head to the fishing grounds where the guests would get to check the first pot, then spend the rest of the trip banding lobsters and cutting bait while the crew hauled the gear. On the way in they would help clean the boat and eat lobsters.

“I was actually getting in an hour earlier because of the help. It was a great revenue source for June.”

By 2012, Gotell had developed his business into a full-time enterprise.

“The first year we lost our shirts, the second year we broke even, the third year I found out about partnering with Tourism P.E.I., meetings, conventions, chamber of commerce, regional tourism, the internet, websites, Facebook, Twitter and my business took off overnight. It was just a runaway train.”

There were many things he had to do to start.

“It’s not as tough as people think it is. There are no monsters out there trying to keep us down. They want us to succeed.” His business model is also diversified. “I didn’t put all my eggs in one basket.”

Giant bar clam digs and cookouts on an offshore island, starfish hunting, deep sea fishing with an onboard barbecue, private charters, guided snowmobile tours and ice fishing for oysters are among the experiential tourism opportunities offered.

“Its’ not just the boat going out. It’s the story telling, it’s getting people involved, it’s making friends,” said Gotell. “If you add local food, it just makes it that much more special ... what we think as ordinary is pure gold to them.”

As a tour boat operator, “Coming to my boat I have to treat you good. You have to make every experience special and we found it takes three things to make this work,” said Gotell.

Expertise: Share you gift with the world. Whether you’re a fisherman, chef or local expert, hosts represent a wide range of backgrounds and skills. Don’t be afraid to show your skills.

Access: Give your unique perspective. You can provide access to places only locals know about, stories and communities that quests can’t find easily on their own.

Connection: Inspire conversation and create a belonging. The goal is to have guests come as strangers and leave as friends. Share personal stories and encourage people to get to know each other.

“You have to be as big a sell yourself as the boat, the food, the scenery and everything else. You’re a big piece of that pie,” said Gotell. “You are a professional fisherman

... people are dying to get on the boat with an expert. All the knowledge and stories my father and grandfather told me, I’m actually drawing on that. How the industry and livelihoods have changed. It makes my expertise more valuable because they just love listening to these stories. Don’t be scared to show off your skills.”

Valued added is a big part of his business, said Gotell, but doesn’t necessarily mean big investment.

Educational trap permits from DFO for non-fishing rock crab and lobster traps “is a big hit that doesn’t cost me anything,” said Gotell. “People love to get to handle sea creatures. It gets them involved. There’s all kinds of things you can tell them about lobsters.”

Gotell also hauls a mussel sock and has amenities onboard such as drinks, snacks and colouring books for kids.

“It’s all value added, makes their trip more enjoyable and doesn’t cost me very much.”

Expand what you already have, look at ways to make the wheel turn better, form partnerships, focus on quality not quantity and keep you boat clean, advised Gotell.

“You can’t keep your boat clean enough,” he said. “You wouldn’t believe how far that’s going to get you.”