Dad was using a Maltese Minnow and I was using a silver slab spoon. We were just jigging on the edge of a drop off were it went from 18 foot of water to 35 foot. That is the first time in my life that we tore them up that bad that quick and I too have fished for them for many moons as well (close to 30 years). In the past we have found them schooling on the top of the water but they were always small fish. They were bitting so good that all we were doing was hitting the reel line release and you would have fish on before the bait hit the bottom. As far as cooking them I think it has the a lot to do with cleaning them. We cut all the dark red meat off the fillets and soak them in butter milk before we fry them.