David Mangum is unquestionably one of the most highly exposed tarpon guides there is. His early notoriety came with a film shot by Howard films titled “Location X,” located somewhere in the Apalachicola region of the Florida Panhandle. The darker water and monster fish that swim there are much more prone to eat a fly, creating the opportunity for some highly energetic footage. It was an eye opener. Many locals already knew about what was going on in the Panhandle, but now there was a movie. Then in 2017, Yeti produced a short tarpon film, “120 days,” which represented David Mangum’s tarpon season that rocked the house. Shot in black and white, it was electric and it went viral. It’s an incredible look into a sport and a fish we love, and a man that has refined his craft. But the words I heard expressed, and the way he caught his fish raised a red flag that made me take a closer look. I knew our paths had to cross at some point.
Then, I met David in the Florida Keys while we were both filming separate TV shows with Jared Raskob. David was awesome, funny, effervescent and engaging, but I held my questions that I hoped one day would be answered.
On this podcast, we tread into some deeper water with Mangum and talked about some very important topics including: passion, legacy, ethics, and spot ownership. He was articulate about our differences and cared about how he would be heard, everything we’d hoped for!
Thank you so much for coming on, David!
Episode 95: Capt. Conway Bowman - Makos on Fly
Episode 94: Dr. Ross Boucek - The Mad Fish Scientist
Episode 93: Capt. Brandon Cyr - 4th Generation Conch
Episode 92: Capt. Richard Black - Blackfly Charters
Episode 91: Jay Grant - The Greatest Permit Fisherman You've Never Heard Of
Episode 90: Capt. Ian Slater - Determined to Win
Episode 89: Capt. Albert Ponzoa - Under the Radar
Episode 88: Carl Hiaasen - The Wordsmith
Episode 87: Capt. Steve Kilpatrick - The Holy Grail
Episode 86: Capt. Ryan Nitz - Snook, Osceolas, & Cubera Snapper
Episode 85: Capt. Ray Rosher - Sailfish, Marlin, & Tuna
Episode 84: Lloyd Wruble - Gatekeeper of the Glades
Episode 83: Bill Bishop - Dream Chaser
Episode 82: Huey Lewis - The Heart of Rock & Roll
Episode 81: Capt. Frank Davis - Boca Grande Pass
Episode 80: Capt. Benny Blanco - Shifting Baselines
Episode 79: George Copeland - Snook Giant
Episode 78: Ansil Saunders - Bonefish Legend
Episode 77: Capt. Russell Kleppinger - The Tarponator
Episode 76: Capt. Rick Ruoff - The Nineteenth Pole
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