Great day. The fish gods must've smiled on you for turning back the other two :) Man, they can go stupid on bait on that flat on the west side of the pier sometimes. How was the tide? We got on a wide open bite on chovies one time on super low tide, fishing way out by the marker buoy, but still able to touch the bottom pretty much. Stinger hook is definitely key, you get a whole lot of raked baits fishing halibut.
-Brian