First, apologies if there's a better place for this post and I've got it wrong - but hey, with what's happening around East Cape and Gisborne right now, maybe it's the perfect place.

I got hold of a couple of Rapala Magnum 30s to try out a while back, thinking they could be useful for kingfish and maybe tuna.

The big plastic bibs they have now are supposed to be a great improvement because of the depth they allow and because they remain aligned better.

I've had the lures out the back only once for a test run, trolling at around 7kts. They would have been in the water for maybe half an hour. One ran perfectly but the other is a problem.

The thing is, the bibs have ended up pretty badly crazed - to the point where they're partially opaque and look like they've been weakened.

They are rigged on a length of 105lb single strand trolling wire (diameter around 0.56mm) and that was attached to a leader of about 2m of 100lb fluorocarbon, then to braid (rigging for depth).

It looks almost as if trolling stresses have affected them.

They haven't been left anywhere hot, out in the sun etc, and they were washed etc before I put them away. No chemicals.

Anyone else had this 'crazy' problem? Is it a problem, or considered normal? Is it a Rapala thing, or are others similarly inclined?

It's not entirely that they're hugely expensive - but IF this crazing is a failure and makes them ineffective it's better to bin them now and let people know, than see millions of hours and tonnes of fuel wasted towing them.

And I've still got to work out why one of the lures tracked off to one side. I'm expecting it to be a rigging issue but I have yet to check.

Are any of the bluefin being caught at the moment being snagged by bibbed lures?

I've had trouble with the newer single-hook model (larger bibs) when using single wire. I think it's from the wire getting a small kink and effecting the rapala. I haven't had the same problem with 7-wire or mono.

Thanks guys.  Experience counts.  I have run older Rapalas before (never on wire) and had a bit of fun realigning tc, so I was interested when one of these newer 'slew-proof' ones went slightly West (literally).  Also, obviously, the original metal bibs never went crazy.  I'll def try mono on the wonky one - I have looked at the wire but sometimes these things are, as you say - a matter of minute adjustment.

Your point about the issues being more pronounced in the ones with bigger bibs is very relevant.   More water pressure would magnify any tiny steering aberration, and these lures concentrate water pressure exponentially.  Much greater water pressure + wire/ braid combination (with a short mono/ fluoroleader) - a more 'unforgiving' connection even using rods with flexi tips - will definitely be stressing those bibs and I'm guessing that any resulting flex could cause the crazing.  They do run deep.

Aberration, or maybe "biberration", in this case - if you're running bibbed lures that is a magnificent term for saving time if the fish are biting...  Not sure it'll fly though.

BTW - I just want to clarify that this isn't a whinge.  I'm conscious of not having an unfair 'go' at a brand.  Plenty of folk use Rapalas and already I'm getting helpful info.  Also, I could swap to Brand -X with big bibs and have exactly the same issues arise, due to something I'm doing that ain't right, or 'too right', where somehow I've managed to get them diving deeper than they can handle (excess pressure).    Want to be clear about that, and that's also why I'm waiting before I put up a couple of pics of the bibs in question - could be related to something I've done.  Even the grandkids sometimes veer left if their bibs are crooked (I struggle).

The supplier hasn't hesitated in offering to take them back if I want, so no worries there.  Basically, I'm stuck ashore looking after grandkids, our home launch beach is being hammered by nasty swells, and my recreational budget is completely smoked while a 'child' pays off some new ute tyres... and I've been driven almost insane reading about Southern Bluefin!!!  It's probably just that I've got too much time on my hands! (and these lures were something I'd 'meant to get around to sometime'...)

Thanks again guys.

New Nomads??? Uh ohhh... Lol! I'll just have a quick look....

I have a mate who buys X raps by the box load (loose quite a few to toothy critters). most of what I am towing are his cast offs. He doesn't have the time/patience to persevere to get the wonky ones swimming right. At a guess - 20-30%.

Geez, 20-30% that don't run straight out of the box, lol! They don't tell you that in the blurb.

Dont worry Alan, I'd already added the fisherman factor to the 20-30% with a full understanding that it could vary if the moon is full.

I have to say too, there is a subtle nuance floating around that amputated phone number that hints vaguely at an unbrotherly reluctance to share the spoils of your mate's very particular taste in lure geometry 😂😂

I mentioned elsewhere on here recently that Hooker does a 60% fluoro blend leader. 150lb - 50m spool, $27.00 + freight. Not everyone's cup of tea but perhaps worth a try. I like it... I figure you can utilize the extra abrasion resistance in one of two ways, and one of those is to downsize a little and get more bites yet also retain (much of?) the reliability of the heavier mono. 150lb might be too little off the end of the peanut slab for you but maybe not.   - The balancing act never ends...