Great white shark 'in lake'

Police issued a warning today after a seven-metre great white shark was reportedly netted and freed in a Central Coast lake.

A commercial fisherman reported to police that he netted the monster in waters at a popular school holiday vacation spot at Tuggerah Lake.

The fisherman reported snaring the seven-metre shark in nets he had cast off Canton Beach, at the northern end of the lake about 5.30am today.

"He claimed that he actually caught the shark in his net and the shark came up and started thrashing about, and hit his boat,'' said Chief Inspector Tim Winmill said.

"He said it was bigger than his boat - he's got an 18-foot boat and he said it would have been about 21 feet.

"Tuggerah Lakes is only about 12 kilometres long and five kilometres wide.

"It's not a big lake but it's a bloody big shark, if it's true.''

The shark was last seen heading south towards the middle of the lake, Chief Inspector Winmill said.