The best patterns I've found to use on the outgoing at night is a black deciever
(4-6")with some sparkle hackle to catch any moonlight. Although harder to cast,
the 8" black rabbit fur eel imitations will get the larger fish in the surf.
Daytime patterns should be either chartreuse and yellow or chartreuse and white
depending upon the light conditions. I tend to adjust my sinking lines rather than
use clausers minnows, but that is just personal, they will work just as well.
Mike T