Hubbard Marina

What Hubbard Marina does

Hubbard's Marina is a fourth-generation, family-owned marine tourism operator founded in 1928 and based at John's Pass Village and Boardwalk in Madeira Beach, Florida. The legal entity is Florida Fisherman Inc., doing business as Hubbard's Marina. The company runs a fleet of ten-plus USCG-inspected vessels across three core verticals: party-boat fishing (5- to 44-hour trips targeting grouper, snapper, amberjack, and shark in the Gulf of Mexico), passenger cruises and ferries (dolphin watching, sunset cruises, Egmont Key and Shell Key ferry service, and a pirate ship experience aboard the 46-passenger Royal Conquest), and private charters for groups of 1-120 using vessels including the 60-foot Mrs. Hub Hatteras yacht, HubCat 49 custom catamaran, Bay Taxi, Sea Adventure 2, Florida Fisherman 2, and Friendly Fisherman. Ancillary operations include an on-site marina retail store and two sister F&B businesses, Don's Dock & Seafood Market and Friendly Fisherman Restaurant.

The business operates as a direct-to-consumer leisure and tourism company. Pricing is unit-based across scheduled trips ($24.50-$65 per person range for group trips) with quote-based private charters that require a 50% deposit. Distribution is dominated by an embedded FareHarbor booking engine on hubbardsmarina.com, supplemented by phone reservations, walk-up ticket sales, and tourism-organization partnerships with Visit Florida, Visit St. Pete Clearwater, and Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce. Ancillary streams include retail and souvenir sales, gift certificates, kayak/paddleboard rentals, and snack-bar/galley sales aboard charter vessels.

The company sells to four primary customer segments: individual tourists and families, group event organizers, schools and educational groups, and walk-in retail/F&B traffic at John's Pass. Customer acquisition runs through digital marketing (weekly Constant Contact fishing report, multi-platform social media, YouTube live programming) and earned media (Google, Facebook, TripAdvisor, Yelp reviews totaling over 24,000). Hubbard's Marina holds the USA Today 10Best #1 Fishing Charter designation for five consecutive years and the TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Award for 2025, with related regional awards.

Name

Hubbard Marina

Legal name

Florida Fisherman Inc.

Website

https://hubbardsmarina.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Hubbard's Marina is a fourth-generation, family-owned marine tourism operator based at John's Pass, Madeira Beach, Florida, offering USCG-inspected party-boat fishing trips (5-44 hours), dolphin and sunset cruises, ferry service to Egmont Key and Shell Key, a pirate ship experience, private charters for up to 120 guests, plus a marina store and seafood retail and restaurant operations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Tourism and Recreation Services

NAICS

Marinas (713930), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Sightseeing & Scenic Boat Tours (Harbor, Sunset, Dolphin/Whale Watching) (THAJAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine Wildlife & Birding Cruises (dolphins, seals, seabirds) (THAAAIAD), Private Charters & Yacht Experiences (Crewed, Bareboat, Day Charters) (THAJAJAB), Luxury Yacht & Small-Ship Expedition Cruises (THAEABAF), Catamaran & Sailing Cat Cruise Operators (THAEADAD)

Keywords

• Deep sea fishing charters
• Dolphin watching cruises
• Passenger ferry services
• Private boat charters
• Marine tourism services

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Party Boat Fishing Trips: Tickets sales for scheduled group fishing trips ranging from 5 hours to 44 hours, including half-day, all-day, night, extreme, overnight, and full moon trips.
2. Cruises and Eco Tours: Revenue from dolphin watching nature cruises, sunset cruises with free beer and wine, Egmont Key ferry, Shell Key ferry, snorkeling excursions, and pirate ship tours.
3. Private Charters: Custom private charter bookings for groups of 1-120 people using vessels including the 60ft Mrs. Hub Hatteras yacht, the Hub, Flying HUB 2, Bay Taxi, Sea Adventure, Florida Fisherman 2, and Friendly Fisherman. Catering and galley services available.
4. Retail and Souvenirs: Marina store selling apparel, tackle, souvenirs, and gift certificates. Pirate-themed merchandise also available on-site.
5. Food and Beverage: Don's Dock & Seafood Market and the Friendly Fisherman Restaurant serve fresh local seafood, providing ancillary revenue from the marina's waterfront location.
6. Kayak and Paddleboard Rentals: Water sports equipment rentals at the marina location.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Hubbard's Marina operates a marina and passenger vessel fleet from John's Pass in Madeira Beach, Florida, offering party boat deep sea fishing trips (5-44 hours), dolphin watching cruises, sunset cruises, ferry services to Egmont Key and Shell Key, snorkeling excursions, pirate ship adventures, and private charters for groups of 1-120. The company also runs ancillary food and retail operations including Don's Dock & Seafood Market, the Friendly Fisherman Restaurant, and an on-site marina store.

Product overview

Hubbard's Marina operates as a multi-service water recreation company offering party boat fishing trips (5-44 hours), dolphin watching cruises, sunset cruises, island ferry services (Egmont Key, Shell Key), snorkeling, shelling trips, pirate ship adventures, and private charters. The company owns a fleet of vessels ranging from 46-60 feet including fishing boats, catamarans, and luxury yachts (Mrs. Hub). Ancillary services include a marina store, gift certificates, and two restaurant brands (Don's Dock Seafood Market, Friendly Fisherman Restaurant). The company has been family-owned and operated since 1928, operating from Madeira Beach, Florida.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Deep Sea Fishing Trips Scheduled party boat fishing trips in the Gulf of Mexico ranging from 5 to 44 hours, targeting species such as grouper, snapper, amberjack, and shark. Open to anglers of all skill levels.
• Dolphin Watching Cruise

Quantifiable outcome

• Rated 4.7/5 on Google across 12,673 reviews; 4.7/5 on Facebook across 7,847 reviews; 4.5/5 on Yelp across 826 reviews.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FareHarborcoreTechnology or IntegrationFareHarbor provides the embedded online booking and reservation system used on hubbardsmarina.com, enabling real-time availability, trip selection, and secure payment processing for all fishing trips, cruises, and private charters.
• Visit FloridacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial tourism partner of Visit Florida, listed on the state's official tourism website as a recommended fishing charter and boat tour provider.
• Visit St. Pete ClearwatercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial tourism partner providing destination marketing exposure for Hubbard's Marina as a featured boat experience and fishing charter.
• Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of CommercecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce, participating in business directory listings and community events.
• ALLFLA.ORGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHubbard's Marina is collaborating with ALLFLA.ORG on the Right to Fish and Hunt constitutional amendment campaign in Florida, working to preserve fishing and hunting as a public right in the state constitution.
• Florida Guides AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with the Florida Guides Association to support the Right to Hunt and Fish constitutional amendment, spreading awareness about the importance of preserving fishing rights.
• Salt StrongminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHubbard's Marina is collaborating with Salt Strong (a fishing conservation organization) on the Right to Hunt and Fish amendment coalition, promoting conservation and fishing rights in Florida.
• Guide CheckerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGuide Checker verified fishing guide, listed on their platform for transparency and credibility verification.
• Don's Dock & Seafood MarketcoreOthersAncillary business operated by Hubbard's Marina selling fresh local seafood at John's Pass Village and Boardwalk.
• Friendly Fisherman RestaurantcoreOthersWaterfront seafood restaurant operated by Hubbard's Marina serving fresh local catch since 1978, located at John's Pass.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Marina Jack: Sarasota, FL marina operator running passenger cruises, dining venues (Marina Jack Restaurant and Yacht Club), and retail on the waterfront — directly comparable vertically integrated marina experience.
• StarLite Cruises: Tampa Bay-based operator of dining cruises, sightseeing cruises, and private charters on multiple vessels — directly comparable passenger-vessel excursion model in the same regional market as Hubbard's.
• Sea Screamer: Panama City Beach dolphin-watching and snorkeling cruise operator running a large USCG-inspected vessel — directly comparable sightseeing/dolphin tour product to Hubbard's dolphin cruises.
• Miss Captiva Cruises: Southwest Florida ferry and excursion operator running dolphin tours, sunset cruises, and shelling trips to barrier islands — closely comparable leisure cruise and island-ferry offering to Hubbard's.
• Capt. Anderson's Marina: Long-established Panama City Beach marina operating a party-boat fishing fleet, sightseeing cruises, and on-site restaurant — directly comparable to Hubbard's combination of marina + group fishing + cruises + food service in the Florida Gulf Coast market.
• Calusa Marina: Pine Island, FL full-service marina combining fishing charters, kayak/SUP rentals, boat storage, and a restaurant — comparable marina + fishing + watersports + F&B model.
• Tropics Boat Tours: Key West sightseeing boat tour operator running sunset cruises, dolphin-watching, and snorkeling trips — directly comparable leisure cruise product, though in a different Florida sub-market.

Broad incumbents

• Suntex Marinas: Large US marina operator (NYSE: STX) owning and operating dozens of marinas across the country — comparable marina operating business, but at much broader scale and as a portfolio operator rather than a single-property specialist.
• Safe Harbor Marinas: Largest US marina owner/operator with over 300 properties — shares the core marina operating model but at portfolio scale with infrastructure-led services rather than a single-location excursion business.

Emerging players

• Pure Florida: Naples-based operator offering boat tours, eco-cruises, dolphin watching, and private charters — comparable leisure boat tour model in the Florida market, smaller scale than Hubbard's.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hubbardsmarina
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheHubbardsMarina
• Facebookfacebook.com/hubbardsmarina
• Instagraminstagram.com/hubbardsmarina
• TikToktiktok.com/@hubbardsmarina
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hubbards-marina

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hubbard Marina