Tyson, I am also just starting to fish the misson fish. I have gotten lots of bites on both the 5" and 6" fishing them just like a big jig.
I've been using both the curly tail and the thumper tail. i got the hardest bite of my life on the 5" thumper tail but broke it off on the hook set x(. I have not fished this bait a whole lot yet but I realy like it so far. The only draw back I've found so far is turning bites into fish in the boat. I think smaller fish just grab at the tail but a 3+ has no problume inhaling the whole bait and those bites should = hookups:).