Jellyfish (Wrightsville Beach: beach, eat, vacation)

[stu_tv]

All,

...so we are vacationing at Wrightsville Beach this week and have seen a ton of small clear jellyfish (all dead) washing up on shore. We've been coming to Wrightsville for the past 5 years and I don't ever remember seeing a jellyfish.

1. Any idea why there are so many jellyfish right now?
2. Anyone know what kind of jellyfish they are?

Thanks,

-stu_tv

[carolinadawg2]

They're pretty common in the late summer/early fall.

[BarLatGo]

My surfer friends have been complaining that they're a lot worse this year than usual, they're getting stung just about every time they go out. Maybe it has something to do with water temperatures being above normal, I don't know.

[BullGoodBearBad]

Originally Posted by stu_tv

All,

...so we are vacationing at Wrightsville Beach this week and have seen a ton of small clear jellyfish (all dead) washing up on shore. We've been coming to Wrightsville for the past 5 years and I don't ever remember seeing a jellyfish.

1. Any idea why there are so many jellyfish right now?
2. Anyone know what kind of jellyfish they are?

Thanks,

-stu_tv

They're always there and this year seems pretty par for the course in my opinion.

[LLN]

In my experience they seem more prevalent in warmer, saltier water. Water has been very warm.

[stu_tv]

Thanks everyone!

-stu_tv

[MrsRhythm]

Regarding what kind of jellyfish they are, here's a site that has some pictures. I see the "cannonball" type (aka "cabbage head") a lot at Topsail when we go there, and a few times have seen just jellyfish tissue.

Jellyfish in Florida. Identify types of jellyfish found on Florida beaches.

Here is some local jellyfish info:
https://www.ncaquariums.com/askaquarium/jelly.htm

And more info on the cannonball type--apparently they're eaten in Japan!
Cannonball Jellyfish (Stomolophus meleagris) aka Cabbage Head Jellyfish.