MagBay Lures RM9 UV Wahoo & Tuna Lure Review: A High-Speed Weapon for Serious Offshore Fishermen

When you're trolling for wahoo and tuna, your lures have to do more than simply look good in the spread. They need to run true at high speeds, withstand brutal strikes, and continue performing when the conditions get tough. The MagBay Lures RM9 UV Wahoo & Tuna Lure is built with exactly that mission in mind.

At 9 inches long and weighing 17 ounces, the RM9 is a serious piece of offshore hardware. MagBay designed it specifically for high-speed trolling, while also making it effective on bluefin and bigeye tuna. The result is a versatile lure that deserves a place in the spread of anyone targeting big pelagic fish.

Built for Speed

The first thing that separates the RM9 from many conventional trolling lures is its ability to maintain a stable swimming action at high speeds.

MagBay rates the lure for trolling from 5 to 17 knots, with the company stating that it can run straight just beneath the surface at speeds up to 16 knots without a trolling weight and over 20 knots with one. That makes the RM9 particularly interesting for anglers specifically targeting wahoo with a high-speed spread.

The lure's medium-wobble, sinking action gives it enough movement to attract fish without becoming unstable when the boat gets moving. That's an important characteristic when you're covering a lot of water looking for aggressive wahoo.

UV Attraction

The RM9's UV-infused urethane construction is another major selling point.

UV-enhanced finishes have become increasingly popular in offshore trolling because they can provide additional visibility beneath the surface, particularly as light conditions change. MagBay incorporates the UV material directly into the lure's construction rather than relying simply on an external coating.

That gives the RM9 an interesting combination of flash, color and underwater visibility.

For tuna anglers, that can make the lure particularly appealing when you're looking for something that stands out from a spread of more traditional skirts and feathers.

A Tough Lure for Tough Fish

Offshore tackle takes a beating, and the RM9 is designed accordingly.

The lure features a solid urethane body and through-wire construction, with MagBay backing the body with a limited lifetime warranty. The company specifically describes the construction as virtually unbreakable.

That's a big advantage when targeting fish capable of turning an expensive lure into scrap after one encounter.

The RM9 is also equipped with heavy-duty terminal hardware, with versions of the lure featuring BKK 11/0 Lone Diablo hooks.

In other words, this isn't a lure designed simply to attract a fish. It is designed to survive the fight that follows.

Versatility in the Spread

One of the things we really like about the RM9 is how many places it can occupy in a trolling spread.

MagBay says the lure can be run in the shotgun position or closer to the boat, including inside or outside the prop wash. It is also designed to handle short, aggressive turns without blowing out of the spread.

That flexibility is important offshore because every spread is different. Current, sea conditions, boat speed and the location of the fish can all dictate where you want a lure to run.

The RM9 gives you options.

Wahoo First—But Tuna Will Eat It

Although the RM9 was developed with wahoo in mind, its application doesn't stop there.

MagBay specifically lists wahoo, bluefin tuna and bigeye tuna as target species. The lure's size, action and high-speed capabilities make it a natural choice when you're looking for an aggressive presentation around offshore structure, temperature breaks, weed lines or other areas holding pelagic predators.

For tuna anglers, the RM9 can also add something different to a conventional spread. Instead of running another feather or skirted lure, you can put a substantial hard-bodied bait into the mix that presents a completely different profile and swimming action.

Color Selection

MagBay offers the RM9 in a variety of patterns, including Green Mackerel, Black Magic, Purple Marlin, Pink Lady, Blue Mackerel, Pearl Glow, Red Tinted and Red.

That gives anglers plenty of options for matching the bait, water conditions and light levels.

For an all-around starting point, Green Mackerel or Blue Mackerel makes plenty of sense when you're trying to imitate common offshore baitfish. Pearl Glow is another intriguing choice when visibility becomes an issue, while darker patterns such as Black Magic can offer a strong silhouette in certain conditions.

The MagBay RM9 UV is not a bargain-bin trolling plug, and at around $90, it represents a significant investment in a single lure. But offshore anglers know that when you're targeting wahoo and large tuna, durability and performance are worth paying for.

What you get is a purpose-built high-speed lure with a solid urethane body, UV-infused construction, heavy-duty components and an action designed to stay stable when the throttle goes down.

Our take: the RM9 UV is a serious offshore weapon.

If wahoo are on your hit list, this is exactly the type of lure you want ready to deploy when it's time to put the boat in gear and cover water. And for tuna fishermen, it gives the spread a larger, hard-bodied presentation that can complement traditional feathers, plugs and skirted baits.

For anglers who don't want to gamble when the next big wahoo or tuna shows up, the MagBay RM9 UV is a lure worth having in the box—and preferably already rigged and ready to go.

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