Western Australia's surfing community got a good glimpse of what really lies beneath the waves with the release of images of the first great white shark caught as part of the $3.84-million SMART drumline trial underway in the state's south west.

Key points: The shark was the first caught in WA's SMART drumline trial

The shark was the first caught in WA's SMART drumline trial It was fitted with an acoustic tag that will trigger a monitoring network if detected by network receivers along the southern WA coast

It was fitted with an acoustic tag that will trigger a monitoring network if detected by network receivers along the southern WA coast It took about an hour for the shark to be tagged and moved a further 500 metres offshore

The 4.6-metre female great white, known scientifically as a white shark, bit down on one of 10 baited hooks deployed in February along a 11.5-kilometre stretch of coast near the popular town of Gracetown, north of Margaret River.

Its presence on the baited hook on Thursday afternoon alerted contractors, who motored about 500m beyond the popular surf break of North Point to fit the shark with an acoustic tag before releasing it a further 500m offshore.

The tag will trigger a monitoring network if it is detected by any of the 30 network receivers along the southern WA coast.

Shark programs manager for WA's Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Peter Godfrey said while it was "quite large", the shark had otherwise presented few problems for contractors.

"It took about an hour for the contractor to tag the shark and then move it a further 500m offshore," Mr Godfrey said.

"It was released in very good condition and swam away strongly."

More to come

The shark was tagged at North Point, near Gracetown in WA's south west. ( Supplied: Jenny Barr )

The 15-month trial program had begun to attract criticism about the use of Australian salmon as bait, and the inability to land a white shark, nominated by WA's Fisheries Minister Dave Kelly as the targeted species.

Prior to Thursday's capture, 40 non-targeted species of sharks, including bronze whalers, tiger sharks, mako, dusky whalers and smooth stingrays had been caught and released.

An additional two non-targeted species of shark were caught on Friday.

Mr Godfrey said he expected a spike in white shark activity throughout May as schools of salmon continued to migrate in large numbers between WA's south coast and Perth.

Those populations of white sharks would also continue as humpback whales began their migration north from April to November.

"We tend to see more white sharks in the south west as the summer weather cools off," Mr Godfrey said.

"They are often associated with the salmon run and humpback whale migration."

WA's second swing at shark mitigation

The program was put in place after two high-profile shark interactions at Gracetown in April, 2018 that resulted in organisers of the Margaret River Pro abandoning competition due to safety concerns voiced by competitors.

A local surfer, Jason Longrass, was attacked by a shark in the area in April, 2018. ( ABC News: Charlotte Hamlyn )

A previous attempt at shark mitigation by the Liberal party in 2014 failed to capture a white shark.

Up to 64 tiger sharks and four short-fin makos were either killed upon catch or died while on baited hooks.

Both programs attracted strong opposition from conservation groups and an otherwise mixed response from surfing groups.

Gracetown is a popular destination for surfers and tourists just north of Margaret River. ( ABC Local: Anthony Pancia )

WA's Liberal member for Vasse Libby Mettam said while she was "overwhelmingly" supportive of the 15-month trial and the recent capture of the 4.6m white shark, she said more monitoring receivers should be in place at popular surf breaks in Yallingup and Margaret River, which will again host World Surf League competition towards the end of May.

"I just question what value the program has when there is no ability to pick up these tagged sharks at some of our most popular breaks," Ms Mettam said.

"It means surfers will be none the wiser if these tagged sharks approach these key breaks."