Capt. Dylan Hubbard here with this week’s update from Hubbard’s Marina. The waters around Tampa Bay, including Madeira Beach, Treasure Island, St. Pete Beach, Shell Key, Fort De Soto, and Egmont Key, have been alive with wildlife and activity. Each week brings new experiences, from dolphin sightings to shelling, island exploration, and sunset cruises with free beer and wine. Here’s a closer look at what we’ve seen and done this past week.
Dolphins and Rays
Our dolphin watching nature cruises and eco tours have been full of action, with dolphins showing off their playful and acrobatic behaviors. Guests have enjoyed up-close encounters as pods leap and swim alongside the boats. In addition to dolphins, we’ve observed multiple groups of rays moving throughout the area while cruising to and from the islands, offering guests a unique opportunity to see these graceful creatures in their natural habitat.
Sunset Cruises
Our sunset cruises this week provided some of the most spectacular views yet. The skies over the Gulf of Mexico created vibrant reflections across the water, offering guests a serene and unforgettable way to end their day on the water. With complimentary beer and wine, it was the perfect opportunity to relax while watching dolphins and other wildlife in the warm evening light.
Cruise News: Island Ferries
Manatee Sightings
Manatees made appearances on two separate occasions this past week during our Shell Key and Egmont Key island trips. Guests had the rare chance to watch these gentle giants swim near the shore and through the shallow waters while exploring the islands, creating memorable wildlife encounters for everyone aboard.
Shelling and Island Adventures
Shelling has been excellent this past week. Guests on our Shell Key ferry and 3-hour Shell Key shelling trips found an abundance of shells, including several huge conch shells, making for an exciting and rewarding beachcombing experience. The waters remain clear and ideal for exploring, snorkeling, and hunting for shells along the coastlines of Shell Key and Egmont Key.
Egmont Key also hosted a major community clean-up event this past week, where hundreds of volunteers and community leaders worked together with our partners to remove 23,000 pounds of trash from the island. We documented the effort with a video now available on our YouTube channel, highlighting the importance of keeping our islands pristine and safe for wildlife.
Wildlife Rescues
This week our team rescued three pelicans and a cormorant that were in trouble along the waterways. These rescues, combined with our ongoing work with local wildlife organizations, demonstrate our commitment to protecting the coastal ecosystem and ensuring that injured or stranded animals get the help they need.
