Nice write up. Just wanted to add another method. Live smelt. Couple years ago I was going to the Redondo Short Pier after work and useing a sabiki rig with a 1/8" piece of squid tenacle on it and bread for chum. Catck 6 to 8 smelt and put them in a 5 gal bucket then go to your spot. No airiator needed for smelt just dump out some water and add fresh every hour or so. I have had smelt last over 6 hours with no airiator.

Having had good results using live smelt and landing a 26" butt this way.

Also works good on the jetties but you will need a net. Trying to land a halibut on a jetty with no net usually ends up being crab food when dropped in the rocks.
DR