What Happened!!!

Last year this time, we were catching trout left and right but this year seems pretty slow.  Headed out at at 4pm this afternoon and fished south of east cut, east of bennys shack, pipeline and nothing!!  Maybe had two bites tops.  Where the fish at Captain?  Just tell me this; should I be heading north? and if so, should I be fishing west or east?  Not asking for specific points just asking whether north or south and whether west or east of channel.  Throw me a bone. ???