Tips n' Tricks

Gibbs Minnow

By Allan Riley of Surfcast and Free-Lance Writer

The Gibbs Minnow has great appeal in the New Jersey surf to both anglers and gamefish such as striped bass and bluefish. This direct-tie metal lure outcasts most other metal jigs on the market, even into a stiff onshore wind. It comes in a variety of finishes and sizes.

The Minnow has been especially effective when "southern speedsters" like Spanish mackerel, bonito, and false albacore move through the late-summer New Jersey surf while feeding on small baitfish as part of their annual southward migratory run. All of these game fish have exceptionally keen eyesight and react best to a lure retrieved very fast through the top of the water column.

The best way to hook up with these feisty game fish is to tie the Minnow directly to your line: do not use any shock leaders or hardware that may spook the wary speedsters. A direct-tie also enables you to achieve the maximum casting distance possible as opposed to other modes of presentation. Use clear, 12-pound test line so the fish can't easily see it. Your best chance to encounter and hook up with these species is around sunrise and sunset when low-light levels work to the advantage of anglers using artificial lures. I recommend presenting the Minnow with a l0-foot graphite surf rod teamed with a high-speed retrieve reel. All of the factors cited enable me to outcast most of my associates and to present the most convincing illusion of a wounded baitfish with my Minnows.

Of all the Minnow colors available from Gibbs, I have my best luck with the CHROME and BLUE BACK/CHROME finishes. With the equipment I use, the 1 1/2 ounce (#40) model works best for me. I use the 2-ounce (#60) model when I need just a bit more distance from my casts. Minnows whose paint has been damaged by predators' teeth or whose finishes have been dulled by corrosive saltwater can be "recycled" by dabbing them with clear fingernail polish and then sprinkling silver stationary glitter onto the wet polish. When
given their "new life," the glitter on these refurbished lures closely resembles scales found on small baitfish.

Once you make your cast, don't let your Minnow sink to the bottom: begin reeling in as soon as the lure hits the water. I like a fast retrieve with the Minnow, and to bring the lure in very close to the surface. To accomplish this, I keep my rod tip high while making my retrieve. If conventional wisdom fails, experiment with varying your retrieve rate and the angle of your rod while reeling in. The fish will let you know when you've hit the right combination.

Southern speedsters like false albacore have added new excitement to the New Jersey surf scene.  The Gibbs Minnow has been THE lure used by anglers who have had the most success against them.