A 3.2-metre great white was the first of five sharks caught in brand new nets deployed along the infamous stretch of northern NSW coastline that has been marred by a rash of attacks over the past year.

The hulking female was found ensnared off Sharpes Beach, Ballina at 11.30am on Saturday during a routine check of the nets by Department of Primary Industry personnel, just days after the net was installed.

Four other great white sharks were also snagged on Saturday by the state's new hi-tech drumlines, also deployed last week: a three-metre shark was caught off Lennox Head; another measuring 2.7 metres was snared at South Ballina; and two more were caught at Evans Head, measuring 2.5 and 2.3 metres.

DPI researchers Dr Paul Butcher and Matt Broadhurst tagged, relocated and released the large female caught in the net at Sharpes Beach.