DAYTONA BEACH — A beach walker got a surprise Saturday morning when he stumbled upon a bale of marijuana just north of the University Boulevard approach.

Jeff Stolowitz says he strolls along the beach regularly and often disposes of the debris left behind by others. But this particular bit of debris concerned him enough to call 9-1-1.

"The reason I called Beach Patrol was due to the end looking bloody," Stolowitz wrote in an email to the News-Journal. "It was a bit troubling to look at."

Stolowitz reported the bale at 7:51 a.m. and four Volusia County Beach Safety officers were dispatched to check out the mystery item, said Beach Safety Captain Mike Berard.

In an email, he called it a small package of "very wet" and "very smelly" marijuana.

“Looking at the size and shape, it may weigh about 10 pounds including water weight,” Berard said.

One of the officers at the scene posited that, based on the amount of barnacles attached to the package, it had likely been in the water for two weeks, Stolowitz said.

Berard said narcotics periodically wash ashore as the surf kicks up. He said small amounts are typically tested and disposed of, but in the case of trafficking amounts, the drugs are often transferred to another agency.

“We will contact Border Patrol to see if they have any interest in it. If not we'll package it for destruction,” Berard said.

Berard advises anyone who finds drugs or anything on the beach that concerns them to call 9-1-1 or the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency number at 386-239-8276 in Daytona Beach and 386-409-8276 in New Smyrna Beach.