About TinMan Tackle

TinMan Tackle is my attempt to complete a life long desire to be in the fishing tackle manufacturing business. As a kid I often fished with my father using tackle he made. I still have the Harnell rods he made for me back in the late '50's and early '60's. It was way back then watching him make experimental lures that I got the bug to do what I do now, make good quality fishing tackle. All these years later, after my service time, getting married and raising a family the opportunity to do this presented itself just before I retired. I knew I would never get the chance again so I took it. This is now my "retirement hobby business". Don't let that term fool you. I don't take a "hobby" approach to it. The emphasis is on good quality at a fair price.

A lot of the items here are of the "classic" variety. I cater to what I know best, the inshore light tackle and surf fishermen. The result is the list of items in the store catalog. For the Mid-Atlantic states surf fishermen classic lures like bucktails, slab spoons, keeled squids and jig heads are essential items. The bucktails especially are tied in my signature style with a generous quantity of deer hair.

You'll find a large variety of lures on this website.

Soft plastics range from 3" to 16" eels, Kettle Creek paddle tail grubs, swirl tail grubs in several sizes and colors and surge tubing in a variety of colors. Heads and weighted hooks for rigging the Kettle Creek paddle tails are included. In addition there's an extensive list of jig heads for soft plastics that includes Ball, Bullet and Shad head shapes plus specialty Mega size Shad Heads with oversize hooks for large paddle tail Shad plastics.

Striper Bucktails come in a variety of styles and colors including Smilin' Bills, Bullet Heads, Banana Heads, Teardrops and a line of Ultra Minnows made especially for the New Jersey Raritan Bay guys.

The Fluke Bucktails and Fluke Jigs list includes my exclusive Wobble Jig line and Sparkie Bucktails in a variety of specialty colors. In addition there's two types of Spro or Ultra Minnow heads in both the conventional center balanced configuration or the forward balanced type for use in the surf.

Bluefish lures aren't neglected either. They include Diamond Jigs, Slab Spoons like Bluefish Busters and classic Squid styles.

Blackfish or Tog jigs come in three head types and sizes up to 8 ozs. Two of the six colors available are exclusives that were developed at the request of a New Jersey charter captain.

The home tackle tinkerer isn't ignored either. An extensive line of bare jig heads can be found here. Over a dozen head styles are here including some that won't be found anywhere else. As new lures are developed the bare version will be added.

Last is the miscellaneous collection that includes dressed tail hooks, Eel Rigging Squids and and more being added as needed.

TinMan Tackle is located in central New Jersey. This is mainly a online business so "bricks and mortar" locations that sell TinMan made tackle are limited to five or so in New Jersey. The biggest is Fisherman's Supply in Point Pleasant Beach. Four others are Giglio's Bait&Tackle in Sea Bright, Fisherman's Den in Belmar, Gabriel Tackle Co. in both Brick and Lavallette and the newest is Up front Bait & Tackle in Keyport. They are all good tackle suppliers and I urge you to patronize them whenever possible.

Because fishing will always be an evolving sport things will constantly change. No one can keep up with those changes by themselves so I actively seek the input from other fishermen. Suggestions for new items, improvements to existing tackle, praise and complaints are all desired. Well, maybe not the complaints but I will respond to those if they arise. I can be contacted at dan@tinmantackle.com or thru my Facebook page Tinman Tackle.

One additional note. I especially like to see pictures of fish guys catch on the tackle I made. That's almost as much fun as catching the fish myself.

I hope this has given you a idea of who I am and what I'm trying to do.

You can contact us by email at sales@tinmantackle.com. That goes directly to me.

Thanks for looking and good luck fishing!

dan