Hubbard's Marina - Madeira Beach, Florida

sarah B.

Great crew, awesome experience. We saw dolphins even though this was not a dolphin excursion (locals know). It was very pleasant, plenty of parking, quick little ferry over to the barrier island, easy boarding. We really appreciate how nice the crew and other travelers were. It was a positive experience and would definitely book again. Pack for the beach, and don’t forget a little jacket.

Alana C.

My 8-year-old wanted nothing more than to go fishing off a boat, so we signed up for a 5-hour trip with this charter — and it did not disappoint! From start to finish, this place runs a truly professional operation.

Everything was perfectly organized: rental equipment, bait, licenses — all taken care of. We just showed up ready for fun. The crew on the boat was absolutely amazing — super friendly, patient, and incredibly helpful. We’re total amateurs, but they never made us feel like a bother. They untangled our lines (more than once!), helped us replace our lost hooks, and even handled the fish we caught with ease and kindness.

My husband and I were both so impressed with how knowledgeable and professional the staff was, and how clearly they explained everything. It made the whole experience stress-free and fun, even with kids in tow.

To top it off, they filleted our fish at the end, and we walked right over to the restaurant next door where they cooked up our catch — delicious and so satisfying after a great day on the water!

Highly recommend this trip for families, first-timers, or anyone who just wants a laid-back, well-run fishing experience. We’ll definitely be back!

Kristin V.

Made a last minute decision to do a dolphin cruise while visiting John’s Pass for the first time. We really enjoyed it! For the 3 pm trip on a Saturday, it wasn’t overcrowded. You are able to move around the boat and, most importantly we saw a pod of three dolphins probably in the first 10 minutes of the trip. (We saw several more pods and singles too!) The crew kept things fun and informative and they even gave me a birthday shoutout and another couple an anniversary one. Despite the warm weather (70s), I HIGHLY recommend a jacket or hoodie. At times we were freezing when out of the sun. Also, they have a great deal where parking was only $7 in the parking garage across street when you purchase a cruise ticket - we paid like $40 at the pre-paid lot right behind it so won’t make that mistake again!

Karin K.

We took Hubbard Marina’s ferry to Shell Key for shell hunting. The whole process from purchasing tickets, until we returned was smooth. We found them on Groupon but it was cheaper to purchase directly through Hubbard’s website. The boat’s crew were very nice - I’m sorry I can’t remember their names. Our return trip - we didn’t think there was anyway that everyone would be able to get on the boat, but we all fit with a couple of seats to spare! We even saw some dolphins on the ride. Thanks for making it an enjoyable outing!

John S.

My Granddaughter and I wanted to go on a Dolphin tour, so we used the parking garage, and conveniently crossed across a bridge to Hubbard's Marina. We went to check in for the Dolphin tour, the staff was great explaining about the tour and all the perks connected to buying your pass. It included reduced prices at some of the shops at the Marina,plus you get a sticker for reduced parking in the garage. The tour was great, the Captain was very known and engaging. We saw many Dolphins and had a great time. We will definitely be back!

Mona ?. D.

Thoroughly enjoyed our private 10 hour charter with Hubbard’s Marina on Feb 19! Captain Sal and mate “Scraps” took excellent care of providing everything we needed from bait, water on ice, poles, to tender loving care for those of us who had a touch of sea sickness. We had a day of slightly rough water, but Capt Sal took measures to make the best of it. He moved us to many different spots that allowed us maximum opportunities for fishing. "The Hub” was a comfortable vessel. Had great shade when you wanted it, a bathroom (that was tricky in the rough water!), and great bench seating. Both men gave us fishing tips, answered our many questions, taught us how to tie knots, how to handle the poles,…there were no dumb questions! Even though we had hoped for larger fish, we still caught a five gallon bucket of over ten different species. It was fun for us novices to learn about the different fish, what was in season vs out, about federal waters vs state waters. So much goes into these trips behind the scenes, and our crew knew it all. Don’t hesitate to fish with Hubbard’s Marina. We hear rumor they’re the #1 rated private charter in the nation. We agree!
Here’s an extra tip: We stayed the previous night in St. John’s Pass Hotel right across the street. This made parking included in their garage for the day. However, Hubbard’s also gives you a much reduced rate for that same garage across the street.

Karin E.

We had a great time on the shelling trip. The ride there and back were an equal fun part of the trip. We saw a couple of dolphins and a lot of beautiful real estate. The shells are of the common variety but still nice to collect. I would recommend this trip.

Sarah P.

Our family did the sunset cruise and it was a fantastic time! Worth every penny! The captain and first mate were friendly, funny, and entertaining. The music was perfect for a booze cruise and the views were spectacular.