Point Jude Classic Tins
By John D. Silva
Point Jude Lures • PO Box 4706 • Middletown, RI 02842 • 401-846-1808
www.PointJudeLures.com
When it comes to classic lure designs, few can match the staying power of classic metal lures, often referred to as “tins.” Long casting, inexpensive and easy to fabricate, tins fast became a staple lure in many tackle bags. What helped make them so popular with early surf-fishermen was their versatility and ease of use. The basic “spoon” shape produces an erratic wobble when retrieved. The sonic vibrations created by this action attracts fish even when used with the most basic techniques, and the fl ashy, shiny metal finish serves as a visual roadmap to any attacking predatory fish. Although tins have evolved and shapes have been modified over many decades, when it comes right down to it, the concept behind the design has actually changed very little.
A prominent mainstay in the manufacturing of tins is the Point Jude Lure Company (formerly Point Jude Baits). Point Jude is owned and operated by Joe Martins, who bought the rights to the company in 2004. Formed in 1946, Point Jude was once one of the largest saltwater lure companies in the Northeast, and now is one of the longest lasting.
Point Jude has seen its share of ownership changes over the years. Yet despite an esteemed history and a classic lineup of lures, many considered collectibles today, by the turn of the new millennium the company was “beginning to fade” somewhat, said Joe Martins. At the time, Joe was working in a bait and tackle shop in Rhode Island and was familiar with many in the local fishing community, both recreationally and commercially. An admirer of traditional, classic lures, he had missed an earlier opportunity to purchase the company. But in early 2004, fate gave him another shot. Through a series of in shop conversations he learned that the new owners, Mike Dauphin and John Haberek, were willing to part with the company if Martins was still interested.
“What I bought was a small inventory of lures, the rights, and a whole lot of potential,” Joe recalled. Determined to manufacture some Point Jude classics of his own, he proceeded to gather together a variety of old tin-style lures, including some 40- and 50-year-old designs, and had molds made for them from the originals. With these molds Joe began the task of reviving the lineup of Point Jude Classic Tins.
Today, Point Jude Tins are designed and manufactured in the spirit of the classic tin prototypes. But unlike the legendary tin lures of yesteryear, these lures are cast from lead with a mix of tin and antimony, and are then nickel plated, (or on certain models, gold plated or black-powder coated). This makes Point Jude Tins more durable and longer casting than their predecessors. And the intricate details included in the design are not like any metal lures manufactured today.
“The way they used to make lures, they took their time to design them right,” Martins said. “Most (classic tins) have a keel on them and have the swimming action built right in. They were really on the ball with what they were doing. It was a slower world in those days. You don’t see people take the time to do that today.”
Point Jude Tins are available in seven different models, molded in three basic profiles: slender, medium, and oval. Models include the Butterfish, which is designed to imitate small menhaden and peanut bunker. It comes in 1½-ounce and 2½-ounce sizes and a choice of three finishes; nickel, gold, and black. Nickel-finished models include the Sea Scallop, which weighs 2 ounces and is designed to mimic a small mullet, pogie or mackerel; the Po-Jee, which is a small, thin lure made to imitate sand eels and silversides, available in 1½-ounce and 2½-ounce sizes; the Sand Eel, which is longer, thinner, and lighter than the Po-Jee and weighs 1¼ ounces; the Sea Spoon, a smooth, teardrop-shaped tin that features a fluttering action when retrieved and weighs 2½ ounces; and the long-casting Nautilus, a heavy, “keeled” lure designed to provide a consistent retrieve even in the worst conditions. The Nautilus is Point Jude’s largest design and is available in 2½- and 3½-ounce sizes.
The latest addition and one of the most interesting is the TC Jointed Sand Eel. Named after Tony Chiarappo, a “master surfcaster” from Cape Cod who helped design the lure, it is a thin, double-jointed tin designed to mimic the actions of a startled or panicked sand eel. “The TC Sand Eel is unique, as there are no other jointed metals out now,” said Joe. “Drag it in the sand and it makes sand puff up like sand eels do when they hide from stripers. The lure can also be jigged or cast like a regular tin.” An added bonus is the versatility of the design, which allows it to be broken down into a two-segment (single-jointed lure), or it can even be used in a single segment. “I think the one-segment bullet would be good for albies and tuna,” Joe suggested.
Point Jude Classic Tins feature heavy duty hardware, with premium, hand-tied bucktail hooks (very sharp VMC siwash hooks), Rosco stainless-steel split rings, and nickel-plated brass eyelets. For the angler who wants to be prepared for any condition, Point Jude offers the Point Jude Pocket Pak, which includes a selection of four different Point Jude designs, two additional VMC bucktail hooks, and a waterproof, adjustable compartment case. In addition to traditional tins, Point Jude also offers eelskin jigheads, and “eel alternatives” that include Wobble Head jigs used with tubes and soft plastics.
Each model in Point Jude’s lineup is designed to provide a distinctive, unique action. They can be retrieved in a variety of ways including surface skipping, speed retrieve, stop and go, slow retrieve, steady retrieve, bottom jigging, vertical jigging, and dead-sticking. 
They have been proven effective on just about all the sport fi sh that visit our waters including bonito, false albacore, striped bass, bluefish, fluke, weakfish, and even school tuna. There’s no reason to believe they wouldn’t work on virtually any saltwater gamefish that is attracted to small, shiny baits.
Custom wooden plugs have received a huge amount of attention in recent years and Joe believes that the same rebirth in popularity can also apply to classic metal lures. “There are untapped opportunities for metal lures if people can think outside of the blitz box,” said Joe. “They can get down below the blues to the bass underneath the frenzy. They can also be rigged with a teaser and fi shed at night with deadly effectiveness.”
Long proven in the surf, tins continue to withstand the test of time. With 60 years of productive fishing behind them, Point Jude Classic Tins are experiencing a rebirth of sorts in the 21st century, earning the loyalty of a growing number of Northeast surfcasters along the way.
