Help me understand something

[GattaFish]

Guy # 1 was centered on a sweet spot and the other two guys were on the outer edge.. Possibly structure or some type of underwater disturbance that was good for holding bass just a few feet away from you guys,,,

[SurfCaster413]

you where just missing the sweet spot by a few feet thats all, should have crowded number 1 some more lol

[JamesJet]

Scent or structure. Did one pump gas before or smoke cigs, bugspray? Could also be structure as described, underwater eddies and currents can be very specific and one could be pulling bait into a spot and just past it it pulls it out just as fast.
Also I know you said same reel same retrieve but were you all hooking the eel same way, same exact line which can get a bait down a little deeper?
In the end I think its luck or structure - but at least I offered a few other "scientific" thoughts.