I have never much luck with East Clive for snapper around this time of year - i usually seem to get them in the last week or two of September. Any local will tell you when the wind is coming off the Cape - get your baits in the water. I had a fish at Clive last week late afternoon - early evening...like yourself i got hammered by crabs, but i never let this put me off because like in my past snapper catches the next bait produces the snapper. The first couple couple field weekends will be a cracker for that beach fure sure.