"tiny little boat" and crabbing[?]...hhhmmm...well with a small boat you could weave your way through the channels and get out onto Sturgeon Bank from the Middle Arm. Past the south terminal of the airport. You'll see lots of commercial traps there.
Put your traps in 40-50 ft. of water. Heading west toward t10 from there and you could catch salmon. They will be coming in better numbers into August. We've hooked up in as little as 80-100 ft. of water.
It can get pretty sloppy there though as it's shallow off the airport. Just how "tiny" is tiny? What kind of power on it?
Can't say for sure as I've never tried but I've been told there are crab to be had in the South Arm around BC Ferries, Massey Tunnel, Ocean Fish cannery area although I can't imagine numbers would be high. Maybe launch at Deas Park and get across the river there. Possible to catch salmon there tossing spoons just off the beach on Deas Park side. Strong currents in the river as well!
Sorry, just can't get over the "tiny" description. Especially when coupled with "buddies", how many people in the boat? [8]?
Please be careful.
Forgot to add if you drive to Tsawassen you can launch a small boat easily on south side of causeway and drop traps just as you leave the bay there. Be careful that you're in Canadian water. Watch out for the ferry traffic. There is now a closed area there for the commercial crabbers so you might find more keepers. I don't think it's closed for recreational fishers, check the regs.