What hook do you like best for live bait? Style, size, brand?

I like 2/0 octopus hooks..don't care what brand

Agreed, I use 2/0 circles as well.

I like an octopus circle hook. That's the only hook i Will use in my boat for live bait!!!!!! Gamakatsu "or however you spell it" makes a great hook. I have them in every size from 2/0-8/0. I like to use a 4/0 most of the time. Match the size hook with the size shad or bluegill your using. A 2/0 Will be too small for a 8"-10" gizzard shad imo.

Will not use anything else but a kahle hook for live bait, used them all and caught fish on them all and still go back to the kahle.

Eagle claw L141 1/0 - 4/0, my everday is 2/0 and caught stripers to 35lbs on it so no its not too small. I just go up to 4/0 when hooking 18+ inch baits.

I want to know where you are getting the 18"+ bait. That is truly impressive. Are you putting more than 1 hook in the bait?

Remember there other striper baits out there other then shad. I catch them in the river, that is about as detailed on that as I am going to get. Yes sometimes I will stick a pretty big treble hook in them for a back stinger, depending on what structure I am fishing or lack there of I will also just let a weighted treble stinger freely hang down about 12 inches.