The 2009 saltwater season, like the 2008, is going out not with a bang but a whimper.  In fact, the fabled fall run of striped bass is a far cry from its legendary past.  The October-November run of 30 to 50-lb bass along the outer Cape, through Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds was last seen 15 to 20 years ago.

Theories abound as to the cause of the change.  Assuming the experts are right in concluding that bass populations are healthy and stable along the East Coast, the best theory is that the large bass have changed their migration routes.  The absence of large bait in inshore waters — specifically mature menhaden — has moved the bigger bass offshore to feed on sea herring.  As a result, the fall run is bypassing the Cape, going around Nantucket and the Vineyard before heading to Block Island and Montauk Point.

To make matters worse for bass anglers, there’s been a very noticeable lack of small bait for the past two seasons.  The baby pogies and herring that have been plentiful in recent years might not have satisfied jumbo bass but they did provide food for schoolies, small keepers, bonito and albies.

So we wait to see what 2010 will bring.

For diehard anglers, there are still bass and blues to be caught and decent fishing should be possible through the Thanksgiving weekend.  Anglers fishing eels, plugs and even flies along the Elizabeth Islands have found legal-sized bass for the past two weeks.  For shore-bound anglers, the Canal remains the best bet with a steady run of bass from Cape Cod Bay.  There are plenty of mackerel in the Bay so the bass are hanging around.

Freshwater anglers are feasting on trout, with Falmouth’s Grews Pond particularly hot.  Anglers report catching dozens of brook trout, along with jumbo rainbows and brown trout.  The other Cape ponds might not be as hot but they’re all worth checking out.

This will be the final report for 2009.  If we get an extended cold snap, check back in January and February for ice fishing reports.