"It’s definitely out of the ordinary," said Jon Miller, a maritime research associate at Stevens Institute of Technology. "The weather’s been warm enough that (the ocean) never cooled down the way that it usually does."

The state Department of Environmental Protection said imminent effects of the unusual warmth are minimal. But should it persist, there could be stronger coastal storms and a dramatic impact on the fishing industry, experts say.

Fishermen along the New Jersey coast said temperatures may have driven fluke farther offshore, where temperatures are cooler, and other species of fish like wahoo and big-eye tuna, have been appearing off New Jersey, which is north of their usual range.

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