Jellyfish sightings are up at Jersey Shore this year: experts

VENTNOR, N.J. (WPVI) -- Along with the sun and the sand, jellyfish are a normal part of the Jersey shore experience.

Denise Fields loves to look for them.

"I look to see if there's any blue, or if they're just clear, the size of them," said Fields as she walked along the beach in Ventnor.

Folks we spoke with say they've seen them in all shapes and sizes this summer.

"Probably about two weeks ago, we were here and there was big piles of them," said Sadah Muhlbaier of Deptford, N.J.

While several New Jersey beach patrols say they're seeing an average amount of jellyfish, it's a different story in Delaware.

The Lewes Beach Patrol says it has responded to double the number of stings this season, compared to last year.

Rehoboth Beach is seeing a jellyfish surge, too.

Montclair State University biology professor Paul Bologna says he's getting more reports of jellyfish in New Jersey.

"Along the coast, there seems to be a huge number of these mushroom cap and bowling ball jellies that are washing up on our beaches," he said.

He also says it's likely weather-related -- the cold winter we experienced could have impacted the population.

"They just chose to pop out much earlier because it was such a cold winter and they just sprang to life," said Bologna.

In Ventnor, New Jersey, the lifeguards are always on the lookout for the gelatinous creatures and are ready to help in case of a sting.

"You want to use a vinegar solution," said Ventnor Beach Patrol Chief David Funk. "Tamp it dry with a clean towel. And a heat compress can actually break up the stinging mechanism."

Bologna also says different jellyfish thrive in different environments and temperatures: bay vs. ocean and cold vs. warm. So it's possible that different beaches and regions may see different levels of jellyfish activity.

Yet another reason to swim near a lifeguard when you're enjoying the beach.