At this time of the year you can expect to catch a whiting, bream, salmon, mulloway and possibly a flathead. What you will not expect to battle with is a 66cm, 3kg snapper. Surprise! That is exactly what Warren Thompson did earlier in the week.

Well-organised with a butterflied yellowtail bait on an 8/0 circle hook Warren waited patiently for a mulloway to attack the bait on dark. That was the plan. Whammo! Here we go. After an intense battle, what appeared to be a giant bream bounced up the beach. Hang on. It's a snapper.

A rare event but not unheard of. Over the years I have had reports of big snapper moving along the beaches particularly during, or shortly after, rough weather.

Hawks Nest Beach up toward the Little Gibber seems to be where most beach snapper are recorded. Let me know if you have other stories.

A few mud crab sightings are reaching my desk. Fingal champs John and Naomi Evans know a secret spot in the western corner of the Port where the crabs have started to dance.