i fish w/ macks alot i hook un through the eyes 1, 7/0 bronze 92150 big, big macks cut un into 2to3in chunks drift um... livies use 1/4 to 1 oz rubber core sinkers depends on depth to 40 ft ...liveies are a no brainer ... but you get to letum eat it...........
i fish them with a single 8/0 gamo circle hook non offset , hooked just behind the dorsal fin , i keep only 1 fish a year and with the circle hooks i have never had a gut hooked fish .
i either do a 4/0 treb in the back, or, a 9/0 octopus or live bait hook through the nose. it depends. in the back, under a balloon. and in the nose, if im just drifting or casting with no weight or balloon.