Let me guess....braid with a graphite rod.
You would be surprised how much pressure you can put on a hook with these new materials.
VMC are pretty strong too. I would bet it wasn't hooked but just hung by the tip into bone or something hard.
I have also stayed away from SS mustads for the last 10 years because of breakage but this winter bought a bunch and they must have changed their material slightly because they don't snap as easy any more. They will bend but it take some doing. I like them for tail hooks to tie bucktails and feathers on cause they don't rust, the VMS's rust bad after use. The SS's are a pain to sharpen though. BUT they are worth another look IMO.
I have a number of habs plugs that look fine but the VMC tail hook with nice bucktail is rotted, so I change them frequently or go stainless now. Also I find the coating VMS puts on comes off quick once you catch a few fish.
I think the answer is to easy up on the tension and let her run. But this could cause other problems....like rocks. Sometimes you have to stop them or loose them.
My brother lost a beast at the #^&#^&#^&#^&shoot and the hook looked just liked that upong return after a long battle....I mounted the hook and framed it for him for Xmas
