Hubbard’s Marina is the institution of Madeira Beach deep sea fishing, a family-run operation at John’s Pass that has put anglers on the Gulf since 1928. It is the most complete deep sea operation in the port: a fleet of Coast Guard inspected party boats with posted per-person fares, the only true long-range overnight trips in the region, and private charters alongside. A walk-on half day costs less than a tank of gas, and the long trips reach ground no day boat touches. It tops the port on the breadth of what it offers and the depth of its record, with the crowding of a busy head boat the honest trade-off.
The verdict and where it ranks
At 8.0 Hubbard’s is a strong choice and the first ranked operation in Madeira Beach, the right call for most visitors and the only one for a long-range trip. It is the cheapest way out by far, the most transparent on price, and the most flexible on trip length, from a 5 hour half day to a 44 hour run to the Middle Grounds. The private sportfishers below it, starting with GotOne Charters, cost far more but give a small group its own boat and captain. Book Hubbard’s for value, for a first trip, or for the overnight trips nobody else runs, and go in expecting a full, sociable deck. Compare the field on the Madeira Beach ranking.
The boats
Hubbard’s runs a fleet of Coast Guard inspected boats rather than a single hull. The long-range boat is the Florida Fisherman 2, a 75 foot catamaran with an air conditioned cabin, bunks, showers, and a full galley for the overnight trips. The day party boat is the 80 foot Friendly Fisherman, which holds up to 80 anglers with a galley and 13 community livewells. Private charters run on the 41 foot HUB and a fast foil-assisted catamaran. The boats are well equipped for the format, but the honest weakness is the one that comes with a head boat: on a full trip the rail is crowded and lines tangle, and reviewers who want elbow room book a private boat instead.
The fishing and what you target
The boats fish the Gulf reefs and ledges off John’s Pass, with the target set by the trip length. The 5 hour half day stays nearshore for gray snapper, porgies, and sea bass, with hogfish on live bait. The 10 and 12 hour trips reach better ground for red grouper, gag grouper, and mangrove snapper. The long-range 39 and 44 hour trips run 70 to 120 miles to the Middle Grounds for trophy red grouper, amberjack, and red snapper in season, with a two-day bag limit. Gag grouper is open only a short window in 2026 and amberjack is closed for the season, so the longer trips lean on red grouper and snapper.
Trips and prices
This is a real strength: the fares are posted and low. A 5 hour half day walk-on seat is $84.95 for adults and $44.95 for children, the 10 hour all day is $139.45, and the 12 hour night trip is $184.95, all per person. The long-range trips are $499 for the 39 hour and $599 for the 44 hour, plus tax. Private charters on The HUB start around $1,050 for the boat. Rod rental runs $9.95 to $29.50, fish cleaning is charged by the fish or the pound, and parking is $7. Online reservations are non-refundable unless Hubbard’s cancels. Our cost guide and the party boat versus private charter guide show how far an $85 seat goes against a private boat.
The crew
On the party boats the captains and mates rotate, and the sentiment across a very large review base, hundreds on Yelp and thousands on TripAdvisor, runs net-positive. Reviewers consistently credit hard-working mates who coach first timers, bait hooks, and keep the deck fishing, and the long-range trips draw the strongest praise for the catch. The honest marks are the head-boat ones: crowding that can force the boat to anchor rather than drift, line tangles, and the occasional service complaint, plus a Better Business Bureau profile that is not accredited and carries a few itemized gripes. The deck crew on your day matters more than the name on the hull.
Booking and what to know
Book online or by phone, and book the long-range trips well ahead, since they sell out. Note that online reservations are non-refundable unless Hubbard’s cancels for weather or mechanical reasons, when it offers a reschedule, credit, or a refund less a processing fee. Arrive early to park, and bring food and drinks for the longer trips, since the galley is cash only. No license is needed, and the mates clean your catch for a fee.
How we scored it
Hubbard’s scores 8.0: unmatched access and value on a Coast Guard inspected fleet, with posted prices and the only long-range trips in the region, marked down on captain and crew and service for the crowding and rotating crew of a busy head boat. Trips and access is its standout factor. See how we scored this boat and compare it with the rest of the Madeira Beach field.