Capt. Dylan Hubbard here with another wildlife update from Hubbard’s Marina inside John’s Pass in Madeira Beach, Florida. We continue to see plenty of summertime activity throughout Boca Ciega Bay and along the beautiful beaches and islands of Pinellas County. From our Dolphin Watching Nature Cruise and Eco Tour and family fun pirate ship cruises to the 3 Hour Shell Key Shelling Trip, Shell Key Ferry, Egmont Key Ferry and sunset cruises with complimentary beer and wine, nearly every adventure has been giving us opportunities to experience some incredible local wildlife.
The dolphin action has been especially enjoyable lately because we are getting to watch the next generation of our local bottlenose dolphins really start coming into their own. Many of the dolphin calves that we watched being born during late spring and early summer are getting noticeably bigger, stronger and much more active within their family groups.
Instead of simply staying tucked tightly alongside mom, these younger dolphins are beginning to participate more in feeding and hunting activity. They are learning how to chase bait, work together with other dolphins and use their speed, agility and echolocation to locate and capture prey. Watching that progression throughout the season has been really special for our crews and regular guests.
We had an incredible example of this aboard our family fun pirate ship cruise this past week. Guests were lucky enough to watch a young dolphin playing with a fish and seemingly tossing it back and forth while interacting with the surrounding group. While it certainly looks like playtime to us, these behaviors are an important part of how juvenile dolphins develop the skills and coordination necessary to become successful hunters. It made for an incredible wildlife encounter and certainly wasn’t something those families expected when they boarded a pirate ship in John’s Pass.
Our seabird activity has really taken off as well. We have had a fresh influx of smaller baitfish throughout the estuary, and the birds certainly know it. Pelicans, egrets, herons, cormorants, anhingas, terns and osprey have been extremely active throughout Boca Ciega Bay, around John’s Pass and near our local islands.
When these schools of small baitfish concentrate around seawalls, docks, passes and shorelines, it creates an entire feeding event. Pelicans dive from above, wading birds work the edges, cormorants hunt underneath the surface and dolphins will often take advantage of the same concentrations of prey. These are the moments that really demonstrate why our Dolphin Watching Nature Cruise and Eco Tour is about so much more than simply finding dolphins. We are exploring an incredibly diverse estuary and watching the entire food web interact around us.
Manatee sightings have been particularly strong lately too. We have been finding these gentle giants on a variety of trips, from our dedicated dolphin cruises to pirate ship adventures and our Shell Key and Egmont Key island trips. The warm summertime water has manatees spread throughout our local grass flats, beaches, passes and protected back bay waters, so you never really know when one might surface nearby.
Sea turtle nesting season also continues along our coastline, and we are still finding plenty of nests around Shell Key, Egmont Key and our surrounding beaches. If you’re exploring the islands with us, please remain mindful of marked nesting areas and give them plenty of room. Staying off the dunes, avoiding disturbed areas and watching where you walk are simple ways we can all help protect the next generation of Florida sea turtles.
Our Shell Key and Egmont Key trips continue to offer a great combination of wildlife watching and island exploration. On any given trip, you might encounter dolphins or manatees during the ride before spending your island time shelling, snorkeling, swimming or simply exploring the natural shoreline. That combination makes these adventures an excellent way to experience a completely different side of the Tampa Bay area.
Meanwhile, our sunset cruises have been providing beautiful summer evenings on the water. The scattered summertime clouds can make for spectacular colors as the sun drops toward the Gulf horizon, and enjoying those views with complimentary beer and wine while watching for dolphins, seabirds and other wildlife is an incredible way to finish the day.
This is a particularly interesting point in our summer wildlife season. The dolphin calves are growing up, baitfish populations are fueling tremendous feeding activity, manatees are widespread, seabirds are working the estuary and sea turtle nesting continues along our barrier islands.
Whether you’re visiting Madeira Beach, Treasure Island, St. Pete Beach, John’s Pass or the greater Tampa Bay area, come experience it from the water with us at Hubbard’s Marina. Every cruise is different, every wildlife encounter is unpredictable, and you never know what incredible experience might be waiting around the next corner.
Royal Conquest Pirate SHip
Our Family Fun Pirate Ship Adventure continues to create unforgettable memories for families visiting John’s Pass. Every voyage is packed with excitement as our pirate crew leads guests through treasure hunts, pirate stories, sword fights, dancing, and thrilling water cannon battles.
Beyond the pirate fun, guests often enjoy unexpected wildlife encounters while cruising the protected waters around Madeira Beach and Treasure Island. Dolphins, seabirds, and even manatees regularly make appearances, making every pirate adventure a unique experience where you never know what surprises await around the next bend.
