Tried out the mega worms (8"-12") on these big shakey head jig heads and did get a number of
bites, but also lost a bunch, usually when they came up and jumped about halfway to the boat.
I also noticed that the ones that jumped and threw the bait were smaller in size <3 Lbs

So, do I have to hammer my hookset harder with these bigger worms to get the hook set? Or
is it just the nature of the beast that the smaller sized fish will get a mouthful of plastic sometimes
and you will never get the hook to them?

Any thoughts?

Hook size matters. I use a 3/16 - 3/4 ounce with ten inch power worms. Or what ever i can get free.
Too answer your question i think hammering them ,,,, i miss a few and jump off the same amount.

Those big worms need a place to go, so a wide gap hook is a must. Or else I find the bait gets all wadded up inside the hook.

Make sure hook is super sharp..

Break their neck with hookset..

I think a shakey head's geometry makes it a little harder to set the hook..

If there is a long screw lock as part of the big shaky head design it can farther narrow the gap for a clean hookset.
Big shaky heads look cool and are fun to throw, but I just don’t know how much they actually stand up when on bottom.

I skin hook my baits so i dont have to go threw the bait.
I wide gap is good choice
keep the bait moving like a weightless semko

Gotta let them eat it! Then hammer them home.

Try Owner Ultra shaky heads in 5/0 or 6/0. The worm might be getting in the way of the smaller hook.

…..but keep in mind…
When a fish shakes it’s head, those heavier baits/hooks thrash around with a lot of energy and it can open the entry hole and make for an easy “get off” for the fish. Gotta try and keep ‘em down and headed to the boat.

I use Yum brand 1/4 oz. Has a 6/0 hook. I also trim back the coiled keeper to 1 coil

I think Steez hit it on the head. I have had a bunch of these fish that the hooks come out easy after I get them in the boat. I think they are shaking the big weights around and wallowing out the holes!

I watched one of Randy Blaukat's videos on You Tube about Texas rigged worms and missed bites and it was pretty interesting. If you are hooking the worm the way most people do, (me included) burying the point up in the body of the worm that is why people miss them: according to him, the hook is a lot harder to get exposed set up that way. He hooks the tip in the side where it pops out of the worm very easily when they bite it. I haven't tried it yet because I've been on a jig kick, but with the summer bite coming on I'm going to give it a try. This method is supposed to take the bite to catch ratio to nearly 100%. I currently get that out of Texas rigged worms but on a 4 inch finesse set up. On larger worms Is where I have the missed bites at a much higher rate.

Randy Blaukat has got to be one of the most miserable depressing people on YouTube

Why limit it to just YouTube? There's quite a few people in the fishing world I'd love to have a beer/meal and just chat with, he's not in my list.

I know, it sucks for him...

Thanks for the thoughts everyone. I am going to try a bigger hook and see if that works. (that and dislocating my shoulder on the hookset)

Everybody has their opinion, I do too.