Ambleside Pier should be opened since the closure last spring for repair. Dundarave Pier remains closed for fishing and crabbing. If you have access to small piers between Deep Cove and Horseshoe Bay, then it is worth a try. There is a pier in White Rock that can produce as well. Of course Sunshine Coast and VI regions would be even more productive.
A few notes to remember, you can no longer take small crabs off the beach as bait for perch in the Lower Mainland (I can dig up the reg if you wish, but it would take awhile). The best bait that we have used in the winter for perch has actually been the frozen jumb prawns that are cut into small pieces (small enough to fit on a size 10 hook). The daily quota for each perch species is 8. Watch out for rockfish conservation areas (there is one just north of East Vancouver that used to be good for perch), which are closed for fishing with a rod and reel.
The terminal set up is simple. A small sliding weight (<0.5oz) on the main line, swivel, 2 ft long leader (4lb test), small hook. Drop the line straight down to the bottom, lift it up a couple of feet. Gently and slightly lift the rod up, let it drop and wait for the bites as the bait sinks freely.