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I too find fall fishing, at least were I fish (the Elizabeths, Vineyard, and behind Nantucket) to be very inconsistent and unpredictable, compared to 30 years ago. The fish move in schools, and in waves. Fishing can be great one day, then lousy the next six. Only if there are substantial concentrations of bait, particularly large bait such as sea herring, bunker, big sand eels (remember those?), or mullet (further south), will the fish hold in a staging area for any appreciable time. Years ago that type of bait was wide spread and fall fishing was easier. Now, this is an exception (though it still occurs as those lucky RI guys with bunker can attest). Barring this, you are mostly fishing barren water, hoping to have your line in when something decent and hungry swims by. Fishing, then, becomes becomes a statistical exercise, although one where experience and knowledge can improve your odds. Get in a good spot, put in enough time, be patient, and you'll usually get your reward (though it may take several trips). It took me years to adjust to this fact. I used to go fishing in Oct and early Nov with high expectations of success.......and end up frustrated. Now I approach each trip with lower expectations, pace myself, try to get in more rather than longer trips, and concentrate on enjoying the fishing itself (which is not measured entirely by what you catch). Good luck.
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