Episode 63: Capt. Scott Collins & David Dalu – The Game Changers

It’s only fitting that we air this podcast with Dr. David Dalu and Capt. Scott Collins the same week as the 2022 Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament. In 2008, Scott and David won all three major tarpon tournaments; The Gold Cup, The Don Hawley and The Golden Fly. It was the first time anyone had pulled off the triple crown in one year. It was also a confirmation that their wins in the previous year’s Gold Cup and Don Hawley were no fluke. They knew their methodology of catching sensitive ocean side tarpon swimming in clear water was under everyone else’s radar (which would soon be blow wide open). The key elements to this recipe was actually formulated by a few earlier moving parts before it got to Dalu and Collins and because of the significance of their success, history deserves to know how it all unfolded and by whom.
Bring in steelhead/tarpon angler Neil Light, Capt. Albert Ponzoa, inventor Carl Anderson and Key West fireman, Carl Wagner, all adding to the success of what Collins and Dalu perfected. Who knew what and when? And what about all the refined techniques of their little secret that blew the common tarpon techniques deep into the history pages.
With their newfound information, Dalu won five tournaments in three years, and Collins has one of the greatest records of any guide with 8 tarpon wins, 5 permit wins and a bonefish victory in 9 years….
On today’s podcast, 14 years after their 2008 sweep, we speak about that magical year, the build up, and the players that participated in how the most current tarpon techniques evolved!
This is the story of one of the greatest tarpon teams in history.
We hope you enjoy!