The XL Bandit is a 14" skirt saddle sized heavy reverse tapered plunger shape with a short but stubby nose - Keel weighted for excellent balancing.
This shape comes in the regular cut and Kona cut versions. The Kona cut has a steeper nose angle - more aggressive lure for calmer seas. The Kona cut is BRAND NEW, and we are stoked to be able to release the first of its kind ever produced.
From Nick Durham on his XL Bandit:
"An upscaled version of the hugely successful Large Bandit, the XL Bandit is everything you want in a heavy tackle short or long corner lure! Big and aggressive with plenty of splash and a dense smoke trail, giant blue and black marlin will climb all over this! The XL Bandit has a great ability to maintain its aggressive action in all but the roughest weather, so if you’re looking for a short corner specialist that will run consistently and get the job done for you day in and day out, then this is just what you’re looking for. Don’t be afraid of rigging it with heavy hooks and leader – it can well and truly handle it and you’ll be thankful when you see it disappear in a huge hole.
- SKIRTED LENGTH: 14.5″
- HEAD LENGTH: Approx. 3.2"
- Head Weight: 9.7oz
- RECOMMENDED LEADER: 500lb +
- RECOMMENDED HOOK SIZE: 11/0+
- RECOMMENDED POSITIONS: Short Corner, Long Corner
BOM Skirt Size 702
**This is the Kona Cut Version**
Surface Swim Video of the Kona Cut version of the XL Bandit aka "Rick from Arizona":
Here's Capt. Chris Donato on the lure and swim action which you see in the above video:
"The XL Bandit Kona Cut, a lure we nicknamed Rick from Arizona, based off a viral YouTube video Nick and I had a laugh about over a few beers one night. I think it was the next day I got a savage bite that resulted in a 600 lb blue and texted Nick: 'Hey Rick from Arizona got it done today, rippin' and a tearin' it up', and the name kinda stuck.
Basically it has some of the best lure action out of anything out there. If you pull it very short it will just mole hill and produce some big splashes, but on the long corner or short rigger is where I feel it really shines. It has a very straight run with a tight wiggle and massive smoke trail. It will explode in the surface much like a Ruckus and then get back into its swim pattern and occasionally will go into a mole hilling cycle as well mixed into the movement.
Really a big fish caller and just has that special DNA that produces bites. Definitely an aggressive lure. Not so aggressive that fish will only bill whack it; they will plane crash bite it. Also, because of the softer edges it can handle the rough a bit better than most other hard cut lures I've pulled, but it is definitely meant for the calm.
It would make a great teaser bait too. Easy to rig, and the belly weight will make it easy for even a novice to have it swimming good enough.
Rick from Arizona will be sure to slice up your spread with his rippin' and a tearin'."
Insert: Paua Shell
Back Color: Black Glitter
Belly Color: Clear
Eye Pattern: Red Eyes