On an unusually cool September day in Pensacola, I had the privilege of sitting down with a local legend, Captain Bubba Thorsen. For about an hour and a half, we sat in the wheelhouse of his boat, where he shared captivating stories about his life as a fisherman.
A Lifelong Passion for Fishing
Bubba has been fishing his entire life. As a child, he and his father would fish at the end of Little Sabine Bay, pulling his sister behind their boat on a makeshift raft to collect some of the prettiest bay scallops you could find. “My sister and I learned to drive a black Dodge pickup truck on Pensacola Beach,” Bubba recalled with a grin. “We mullet-fished all up and down the shore.”
From College to Captain
Bubba Thorsen graduated from Pensacola Junior College (now Pensacola State College) in 1977 with an Associate of Arts degree. Uninspired by his field of study, he pursued his true calling and earned his Captain’s License in 1979.
He began his career at “Captain’s Red,” a small red concrete brick building with charming oak trees, located where the Beach Marina stands today. “All they did there was sell beer, Coke, and snacks,” Bubba explained. On beautiful days, they would call Joe Patti’s to order shrimp to sell.
The daytime hours were busy with boat captains booking charter fishing trips, but at night, the place was empty. Seeing an opportunity, Bubba struck a deal with Captain’s Red to book his own trips during the evening hours. He arranged his charters there and picked up customers at Bahia Mar Marina, now known as Legendary Marina. This arrangement continued until he secured his own spot at the marina.
A Career on the Water
Over the years, Bubba captained several vessels for various owners, including Anchorage III for Bill Ammons (originally owned by Jerry Andrews), The Gambler for Buzz Pitts, and Wendy II for JR Huggins, among others. He briefly stepped away from fishing to work with Getty Oil but soon returned to running fishing trips for Pensacola visitors.
In the 1980s, Bubba joined the Fire Department. “Fishing doesn’t come with insurance or a pension,” he said. “So I worked at the fire department and ran boat trips on my days off.” During his early years at the fire department, Bubba dreamed of owning his own boats.
Building the Katelyn
While captaining the Anchorage III, Bubba spent some of his time setting reefs in the Gulf. He learned of a boat mold at a nearby shop called Commercial Marina. Locals often teased that “Bubba Thorsen’s gonna buy that mold, put a school bus on it, and turn it into a reef.” Inspired, Bubba approached the shop and asked, “What if I build a boat from that mold?” They replied, “We don’t care what you do with it, just get it out of here.” After a great deal of hard work, Bubba transformed the mold into his first boat, named Katelyn after his daughter.
The Legacy of Chulamar
Bubba now owns two vessels: the Katelyn and the Chulamar. Both offer private charters and shared fishing trips. The Chulamar name, a fixture in Pensacola for over 60 years, has been passed down through multiple owners. When I asked Bubba about the name’s origin, he shared a story: the Kingry family, the previous owners of the Chulamar, were sitting at their kitchen table, pondering a name for the boat. The mother, who was Spanish, suggested “Chulamar,” meaning “Beautiful Sea.”
When asked about his biggest catch, Bubba’s eyes lit up with a familiar spark. “We did a two-day trip once and filled half the 3,000-gallon icebox on deck,” he said. “We had tuna, amberjack, king mackerel, and triggerfish. It’s not a 500-pound hammerhead, but it’s volume.”
Life Today
Now retired from the fire department, Bubba spends most of his days working on his boats or at the ticket booth in front of Shaggy’s on Pensacola Beach, selling tickets for upcoming trips. The best way to book a trip is to call Bubba at (850) 492-1099 or visit chulamar.com.
The busy season runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but trips are offered year-round, including sunset cruises for companies and private groups. With over 50 years of experience, Captain Bubba Thorsen ensures every trip is unforgettable.
A Heartfelt Legacy
Captain Bubba Thorsen is more than a fisherman; he’s a cornerstone of Pensacola’s coastal soul. His stories, woven with the salt and spirit of the Gulf, embody the resilience and passion of a community tied to the sea. Figures like Bubba preserve Pensacola’s maritime heritage while welcoming newcomers to experience the magic of its waters. Through his boats, the Katelyn and Chulamar, Bubba offers not just fishing trips but a connection to a way of life that defines this vibrant city. His dedication reminds us that Pensacola’s beauty lies not only in its shores but in the people who bring its stories to life.
