is there anything wrong with attaching my line to a swivel and then to my steel leader?
No. We use a 12-15 foot steel leader attached to big snap swivel and haven't had any trouble.
10-15ft of #19 single strand Malin harden steel leader and A 500# snap swivel, and I use A Mustad sea mate 16/0 triple strength J-hook with welded eye........The snap swivel is on my Dacron and my steel leader is twisted A certain way so I can just clip on my rigs......over and over!!! makes life A lot easyer. 
I notice that Mako's rigs have some kind of covering to his hooks. What does it do? Thanks
Some people believe that the tape or covering reduces the sharks ability to sense the metal in the hook. Others do it because the shark is less likely to feel the hook if it bites down on top of it.
I personally stopped taping my hooks because it restricted the hooks ability to dig into the sharks mouth. I was having multiple missed hookups with taped hooks.
The tape does work but it does have its flaws......
I personally stopped taping my hooks because it restricted the hooks ability to dig into the sharks mouth. I was having multiple missed hookups with taped hooks.
I find its a lot harder to get a hook deep in a bait as well.
I personally stopped taping my hooks because it restricted the hooks ability to dig into the sharks mouth. I was having multiple missed hookups with taped hooks.
I find its a lot harder to get a hook deep in a bait as well.
I quit taping hooks for the same reasons
Thanks for your replies on the hook covering...think I will leave the tape off for now and try it if I cannot get a decent bite going.