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NAPLES — Successful fishing usually just means being at the right place at the right time, and this past week, the place to be was right in the Naples Bay/Gordon Pass area.

After several weeks of poor conditions caused by the recent storms, the waters cleared, the bait returned and the snook decided it was time to go out to eat. Several guides reported 40-snook days with some of the snook being very large. Redfish, tarpon, jacks and goliath grouper added to the excitement.

Naples Bay was not the only place that produced fish. Doctors Pass was hot, and Estero Bay fair. There were also some tarpon right off the beaches all along the coast, and Spanish mackerel were caught everywhere.

The waters south of Marco Island in the Ten Thousand Islands remained stained and did not fish as well as other areas. Farther south, from Round Key all the way to Highlands Beach, there was bait and schools of oversized redfish. There was not much talk of tarpon in this area, but they should be there in September, so I would expect them to start rolling this week as the waters clear.

In general, barring a late-season storm, the fishing should be very good for the next few weeks as evening temperatures fall and the schools of bait return to the beaches.

NAPLES: Capt. Pat Gould took Ian Webb, Greg Kyle and Tim Beil for some local snook fishing on Saturday and Sunday, and Gould said it was some of the best fishing he has seen all year. The trio averaged more than 40 snook each day with several in the slot and one monster linesider measuring 46 inches. The big snook was caught by Kyle, who had never caught a snook before.

Gould said there is plenty of bait in the Naples area, and this has resulted in an abundance of big fish action. Jacks, redfish, grouper and snapper were all taking baits between snook catches. Gould said most of the fish were caught on the inside and in the passes. He did try a little beach fishing but was not successful.

MARCO ISLAND: Roger Parcells got offshore several days last week, but stayed close to beaches, fishing in the four- to six-mile range. His parties landed several large gag grouper and snook, as well as snapper and king mackerel. The kings actually were hooked near the bottom when they attacked jigs Parcells was using for the snapper. The kings measured between 22 and 28 inches.

Parcells’ backwater boats have been catching mostly snapper and sheepshead with a few snook mixed in. A few weeks ago, there were redfish throughout the area, but the reds have scattered as the freshwater runoff has ebbed and the waters’ salt content has increased.

EVERGLADES CITY: Capt. Shane Miller said the best fishing has been on the incoming tide. Schools of oversized redfish are gathering on the outside points and flats, and can be sighted and fished with either artificials or live baits. There are also some snook along the beaches far to the south, and a few tarpon on the outside. Trout fishing has not been good.

The outgoing tide fishing has been slow. The water is stained and very fresh, and the fish seem to shut down and wait for the more “appetizing” conditions provided by the incoming Gulf water.

WIGGINS PASS/NORTH NAPLES: Capt Larry Regienczuk and Bill Hickman targeted the near-shore artificial reefs south of Wiggins Pass on Monday. He started at the Clam Pass Reef, where there was plenty of bait but few good fish. Then the winds increased, so Regienczuk moved inshore and fished Doctors Pass. The snook were very active in the pass and along the beach, and they landed a half-dozen good fish while losing two much larger ones.

Later in the day, Regienczuk moved just off the beaches, where he caught Spanish mackerel and sharks, and before sighting rolling tarpon. Regienczuk used light tackle to land a 60- and 90-pound fish while jumping several others.

Regienczuk said the action in general was good in all areas. There is bait both along the beach and offshore, and it seems the fall predators are moving in for the easy meal.

FRESHWATER: Sharon at Lake Trafford Marina reported that the lake is full and overflowing, and conditions are ideal for fishing. The recent dredging project has resulted in much cleaner waters, and in many areas, the sandy bottom can be seen.

Anglers have been catching both specs and bluegills from the banks as well as from boats. The specs are taking jigs or minnows. The bluegills eat worms and crickets.

Lake Trafford once also sustained a very healthy population of bass, and it is hoped that with the improvements in the water clarity, the bass fishing will return.

E-mail John Preeg at captjohnpreeg@aol.com