Hey there Country Boy,
You were trying for prawns to far out. One of my buds has been doing extremely well off Arden, town side of the narrows. I'd also suggest trying by the fish farm in the narrows if you're not afraid of potential contamination.
As for your queries:
1:Bait: Commercial pellets work great. Contact the guy who runs 'Ace of Baits' in Parksville, decent price, great bait. Can mix in fish oil, sardines (in oil - chopped) or especially good salmon roe (if you can get volume from the hatchery, or keep what you get over the season).
2. No weight needed in my traps, just a clip-on line weight above each end trap on the string of four. Of course you might need to weigh them down if using the 'sport-style' gear so common in Zellers, Canada Tire and the majority of sporting good shops.
3. I use two stainless traps (centre of string) with fine mesh, and two commercial steel traps on each end (larger mesh). The stainless are lighter, about 20 lbs each, the steel jobs also act as anchors as they weigh in at about 50. Traps 50 feet apart.
4. Used to pull by hand, but day after day hauling up from 300 began to make me look too much like Arnie. Built a puller 3 years ago - no turning back. Mounted on custom swing arm so traps don't bang the side of the boat upon surfacing.
5. Best months here historically have been December January and February. Now closures through the spawn (finally!) take out Jan and Feb, but when it re-opened in April, was HOT for several weeks. Slows over the summer, getting better into the fall again.
The hauler sure saves on visits to the chiropracter! Don't know the one you mention, but any of quality will do.
Spring and hail fishing out on the banks will be a LOT better than inside for the next while. A large school of immature springs and coho mix has taken up temporary feeding stations in zone 8 and 9, so best to avoid. Heard of some success closer to Ucy and closer to the beach than the banks. Might try there, or get the GPS, radio and radar fired up for a run out to the Big Bank. It's good there right now. Best if 40 miles out, 50 fathom edge beyond the Big Bank. Trollers are hauling loads up to 40 pounds or so!
Good Luck, hope you get into a few chromers and bugs.
Cheers...