My experience is only with salty bass but they arent that diferent, plus they are usualy small. It sounds like you are pulling the bait out of their mouths. I have seen it a couple times in the shallows where a spottie will engulf the whole bait and I set the hook and the fish is on for a few seconds and then just spits it out. I think that that style swimbait is easy for them to grab ahold of and not get hooked. Just like with the big swimbaits some lube should help if that is the problem. I like megastrike because it lasts a long time. I know you know this but your hooks need to be sticky sharp. A lot of cheap leadheads dont have real sharp hooks and espesialy with that type of bait dull hooks will cost you fish. Henry also makes a good point. if they are just slapping it then you might want to downsize a little.