Hartford Business Journal

20 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | JUNE 29, 2026 Better care. Better connections. Better results. At SoNE HEALTH, we are committed to creating a healthcare experience that delivers meaningful results, improving patient outcomes while supporting physicians with the tools, collaboration, and resources they need to thrive. Focused on stronger patient relationships. Designed to improve quality and performance. Outcome-driven. sonehealthcare.com Learn More. Join SoNE. Select a Provider. reels and electronics, and the publicity helped keep his charter business booked solid, running about 300 trips a year. Dubrule sold his boat in the early 1990s after a friend convinced him he could make "real money" in real estate. The experiment lasted less than two years. "I'd rather have a tooth pulled," Dubrule joked. Back in the game By the mid-2000s, Dubrule thought his fishing career was behind him. Then an opportunity arose to help run the Black Hawk II charter oper- ation in Niantic after its owner died unexpectedly at age 53. "I ran the boat for his wife for a couple of weeks, and it renewed berlin captains most of the trips. "I paid the price physically in this business," Dubrule said. "A lot of heavy lifting, a lot of beatings. I can't take any rough days anymore." As Dubrule looks to pass the torch, Chamberlin appears to be the likely successor. Dubrule said the younger captain shares his fishing instincts and commitment to customer service, though their personalities differ. "He's the spitting image of what I was when I was 40 years old, except a lot quieter," Dubrule said. "I was boisterous. When I came into a room, you knew it. When Matt comes into a room, you don't even know he's there." A lifelong Niantic resident, Cham- berlin joined the crew at age 25 after leaving a landscaping job. After one season as a deckhand, he earned his captain's license and moved into the wheelhouse. It's also where he met his wife, Alex, who worked a few seasons as a deckhand. Now, after 15 years with the oper- ation, Chamberlin is discussing a possible purchase. While no deal has been finalized, he said a transition could happen as early as late summer. "When I was a kid, my grandfather used to take me out on Black Hawk all the time," Chamberlin said. "So, I mean, the fact that I get the oppor- tunity to own it and keep it going, I'm more than interested." Dubrule, his daughter, Heather Harris, and ex-wife, Faith Allen, expect to remain involved for several seasons to help Chamberlin navigate the transition. Retirement won't mean leaving an interest in the fishing business that I thought was dead and gone," Dubrule said. He eventually purchased the operation and spent years investing in the business and its fleet. He bought the current 75-foot aluminum vessel secondhand in 2020 for about $700,000 and has since invested roughly $300,000 in equipment and upgrades. Manufactured by Louisiana-based Gulf Craft, the boat is designed specifically for the party-boat industry. Improvements have included the addition of a pulpit that extends the bow work area and increases fishing space for customers. Passing the torch As much as he loves fishing, Dubrule's years on the water have taken their toll. These days, Cham- the fishing industry entirely. Dubrule recently purchased molds and equip- ment from a Rhode Island tackle manufacturer and plans to launch a Groton-based business making sinkers, lures and other fishing tackle. Changing industry Meantime, the fishing industry Chamberlin entered 15 years ago looks much different today. When he started, most trips focused on bluefish and striped bass. Today, changing regulations and shifting fish populations have reshaped the business. Porgy fishing has expanded from a fall activity into a major part of the season, while black sea bass have become one of Long Island Sound's most sought-after catches. "Every year is a little different," Chamberlin said. "You have to adapt with changing fisheries." Success depends on understanding tides, water temperatures, fish move- ments and seasonal patterns. Cham- berlin compares it to a chess match. He also credits Dubrule with teaching him a customer-first philos- ophy that helped build the Black Hawk's reputation. The boat is known for occasionally staying out longer than scheduled when fishing improves late in a trip, even when it means burning more fuel and absorbing additional costs. "It's something that Greg always instilled in me," Chamberlin said. "He always used to say catching fish is not everything, it's the only thing." Matt Chamberlin is the likely successor to Capt. Greg Dubrule at the Black Hawk charter fishing operation. HBJ Photo | Michael Puffer Continued from page 19

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