Madeira Beach is part of a chain of beaches and barrier island that run along the Gulf coast of Pinellas County. The community of Redington Beach is located to the north of Madeira Beach, while Treasure Island, located to the south, is separated from Madeira by a coastal inlet 150 feet wide and 10 feet deep, which connects Boca Ciega Bay with the Gulf of Mexico: John's Pass.

Two of the Pinellas Gulf coast’s early pioneers were Joseph Silva and John Levique. In 1848, when sailing back home after visiting New Orleans to sell a cargo of green turtles, they encountered a serious storm and decided to wait and take shelter along the coast. The storm - known as the Great Gale of 1848 - was a Category 4-strength hurricane that made direct landfall at the mouth of Tampa Bay, rearranging the shoreline and creating a new entrance into Boca Ciega Bay. This opening was discovered on September 27, 1848 by John Levique as he was finding a way back home. Since then, the inlet has been called John’s Pass in his honor. The pass was first bridged to connect Madeira Beach with Treasure Island in 1927, later replaced in 1971, then again in 2013.

John's Pass has been a popular fishing location for decades due to its location. The Gulf of Mexico offers some of the best fishing in the world as it contains a variety of species including but not limited to grouper, snapper, and king fish. As a deep water inlet connecting the Gulf with more shallow Boca Ciega Bay, John's Pass sees many species of fish traversing its waters to find food and safety. In addition, the channel allows for easy passage of fishing boats that may require a higher draft.

The Hubbard family has been associated with Gulf Coast fishing ever since the 1940s, when Wilson Hubbard, just back from flying bombers in World War II, opened a small business at the 8th street dock in Pass-a-Grille. He had purchased the dock in the early 1930s where he rented rowboats and bamboo fishing poles while attending St. Petersburg Junior College where he studied journalism and advertising.

In 1976, Hubbard left Pass-a-Grille for John's Pass in Madeira Beach, where he operated deep sea fishing charter boats, as well as catered to tourists with shorter day trips and dolphin-watching cruises. He was a vital influence in the development of John's Pass Village. All of his seven siblings were involved at one point or another in an aspect of Hubbard business.

After Wilson's death in 1994, the family began to overextend itself in attempt to expand the business. Hubbard Properties acquired many loans and Lorraine, the CEO, announced her intention to liquidate the fishing business at one point which resulted in Mark Hubbard buying it from the family.

In 2007, Hubbard Properties developed a five-story parking garage, 40,000 feet of retail space and a three-story boardwalk.

Beginning around 1950, a number of shops and even an aquarium were built on the northeast side of John's Pass to serve local residents and visitors to the area. Known as "John's Pass Village," this collection of businesses is today the #1 tourist attraction in Pinellas County. In 1980, Wilson Hubbard could see the shift taking place in the dominant industry of John's Pass, toward tourism and away from fishing and he built a boardwalk along the public waterfront that today allows for access to the shops as well as gorgeous water views of the Pass.

The John's Pass Village business association markets the location as offering six different types of experiences for visitors: Food and Drinks, Fun on the Water, Family Friendly, Shopping, Accommodations, and Transportation. More unusual businesses include the Alligator Discovery and Wildlife Center and the Tampa Bay Dolphin Tour. Hubbard's Marina still offers fishing trips and other water tours, but these cater to tourists and no longer involve commercial fishing.

In 2005, construction began on the redevelopment of John's Pass Village. Initiatives to maintain the infrastructure of John's Pass included an increase in available parking and a projected effort to repair drainage systems. Along with a new bridge, this multi-year, multi-million dollar public/private venture saw the Village and local marinas get a facelift, as well as the addition of international food chains such as Hooters and Bubba Gump's. These businesses entered into an environment that previously had been dominated by small, locally-owned businesses, putting these smaller-scale operations at risk.

In addition to economic challenges brought to small businesses by the multinational corporations coming to John's Pass Village, there are environmental threats as well. In 2020, an urgent problem emerged, which had been years in the making: sand deposits, from the water moving through the Pass, were accumulating on the north side of the channel, forming a 10-12 foot deep beach where there previously had been open water -- and the docks for the boats that still call John's Pass home. Many boats are getting stuck in the sand and it takes hours to get them out. Stormwater drains are also getting backed up by sand, causing flooding in even the smallest rainstorm.

These factors are a threat to many business at John's Pass, as well as to local marine species. Captain Dylan Hubbard explained that John's Pass is a path for manatees migrating from the Gulf to warmer, shallow water. With the stronger currents caused by the narrowing passage of the channel, the manatees are being steered into the deepest part of the channel, where they are directly at risk of being hit by boats. Dolphins have also been affected by crossing paths with boats while trying to avoid the Pass's dangerous currents.

Many business owners have signed a petition asking for government help. The Army Corps of Engineers are engaged in a study which could take years, and Pinellas County has also expressed interest in a study of their own. One proposed solution is a large scale dredging project, which would likely last multiple years and cost millions of dollars, while further disrupting natural tidal patterns.

Dylan Hubbard is the vice president at Hubbard’s Marina, where he has previously gained experienced as a crew member and also a service manager. He obtained an associate’s degree in business, management, marketing, and related support services at University of Central Florida. He is involved in the Coastal Conservation association, the Florida Guides Association, and Charter Fisherman Association. In this video he shares his knowledge of the history of the pass and some of the current issues that are happening in the area. He also discusses his view on the developmental projects that will be taking place in the near future.

Interview Sections: Time

• The importance of fishing: 00:12

• The transition to John's Pass: 01:09

• Changes and available attractions: 02:34

• Redevelopments (Early 2000s): 05:06

• Current developments: 07:37

• Sanding in of the pass: 09:00

• Madeira beach council meeting: 14:05

• The future of John's Pass: 15:45

Interview Transcript