When Abby Burns started joining her husband, Paul, on his lobster boat last summer, she had no idea they’d be hauling in more than lobsters.
They were about to catch a growing social media audience, too.
It was a welcome turn of events after a difficult summer for the Marblehead couple. Paul’s lobster boat, the Gail Force, sank during a storm, leaving him without his own boat and the couple scrambling to keep their livelihood afloat.
Abby launched a GoFundMe campaign to help purchase a replacement boat. So far, supporters have contributed $10,330 toward that goal. In the meantime, Paul is temporarily using his father’s skiff to continue lobstering. The couple hopes to purchase a boat of their own next summer.
Armed with her cellphone and a fresh appreciation for the sights, sounds and occasional smells of commercial fishing, she began documenting their days on the water.
The result is “Shanty Tales,” a growing collection of Instagram and TikTok videos offering a behind-the-scenes look at a working lobsterman’s life — from hauling traps and encountering marine creatures to navigating the waters off Marblehead’s picturesque coastline.
And people are watching. Abby has created approximately 92 posts since launching the project in August, with her most popular video attracting 85,000 views. She has 425 followers on Instagram.
“I’m still like, ‘Oh my god, look at what we got, you know?’” she laughed, describing her excitement over the sea creatures they encounter. “Wow, the starfish is bigger than my face. This is so cool.”
Abby recalled spotting seals and excitedly pointing them out to her husband, a third-generation fisherman. For him, encounters with marine life are just another day at the office.
A new view of Marblehead
Abby posts at least one video a day, documenting everything from the day’s catch to the scenery around Marblehead Harbor.
The videos capture a side of Marblehead that even longtime residents may rarely see.
“Honestly, it’s the allure of Marblehead,” Abby said. “We have yachts and sailboats and right next to them is a real, working commercial lobster boat. You have the white collars and the salt collars, intermingling, and they all have this camaraderie because it’s all Marblehead.”
The couple works out of a waterfront fishing shanty near Fort Sewall that has been in Paul’s family for generations. Their boat is moored off Front Street Beach, making the commute to work unusually short.
From the fishing boat to the phone screen
Abby, who is also studying psychology online, describes herself as a natural documentarian.
“I’m just a millennial,” she said, explaining that she’s always loved taking photographs and chronicling everyday experiences.
Her videos, shared on Instagram and TikTok, are typically brief, often lasting just 15 seconds. She pairs them with music, frequently older songs, choosing whatever fits the mood.
“It’s just vibes,” she said.
What makes the videos special, she believes, is the chance to show people how much her husband loves his work.
“My husband’s really passionate about fishing,” she said. “When he talks about it, he lights up.”
And Paul is enjoying his wife’s new role as the family’s social media storyteller.
“He’s my biggest fan,” Abby said.
The attention has spilled beyond the internet. When the couple hauls traps near Marblehead Light, people on nearby boats sometimes pull out their phones to record them. On shore, strangers stop to ask questions or take photographs.
Despite the decidedly unglamorous smells and physical demands of commercial fishing, Abby said people are fascinated.
“People come up to us on the beach and just talk to us,” she said.
A growing audience — and new possibilities
Abby initially challenged herself to post consistently for 90 days, just to see what might happen.
So far, the audience is growing organically, without paid promotion. One video has already reached 7,000 views, and Abby hopes to keep building her following.
She is also beginning to explore whether Shanty Tales could eventually become a source of income. A local brand has expressed interest in meeting with her, and she’s open to sponsorship opportunities.
“Hopefully, we can monetize it,” she said.
For now, though, Abby is enjoying capturing what makes Marblehead truly special — and sharing it with others.
