'Mystery Meat' Washes Up On Jersey Shore

Marine Experts Investigate Unusual Find

BRIGANTINE, N.J. - Residents and officials are stumped by the chunks of "mystery meat" that are washing up on the Jersey Shore.

Ed and Linda Morella, of Springfield, Pa., were trying to catch anything they could in the surf -- but even they steered clear of this stuff.

"That's unbelievable," Ed Morella said. "I've never seen anything like that before."

Chunks of some sort of massive marine creature have been discovered strewn across the sand of a Brigantine beach. Bob Schoelkopf, of the Mammal Stranding Center, said the largest piece was 5 feet long.

"That's pretty gross," said Diana Berry, of Port Republic.

Schoelkopf said it was as if "someone had blown up an animal and it floated to shore."

Experts from the Stranding Center came to investigate the unusual remains. They said they could be internal organs, possibly from a huge whale or shark. But they can't really be sure until DNA tests come back.

"We've had some strange things come up, but this is a baffling one," Schoelkopf said.

Pieces also may have been found along the Delaware coast, he said.

"This is a real mystery to us," Schoelkopf said.

Pieces of the mystery meat are now on ice at the Stranding Center. However, it could be months before test results are known.