Catches a stray sprat (5)
I believe the answer is:
traps
'catches' is the definition.
(trapping is a kind of catching)
'a stray sprat' is the wordplay.
'a stray' indicates an anagram.
'sprat' anagrammed gives 'TRAPS'.
(Other definitions for traps that I've seen before include "jazz percussion?" , "Golf course hazards" , "Snares for light carriages" , "tricks" , "Ambushes" .)