ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. -- Debris from a boat is washing ashore along First Coast beaches.

Some people believe much of it is from a shrimp boat which ran aground in December.

The planks of wood and compartments from a boat have been scattered along the coastline from Fernandina Beach to Volusia County, according to Tom Pitchford, a biologist who flies along the coastline.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, a shrimp boat or trawler called Carolina Girl III ran aground by the jetties of the St. Johns River entrance in Jacksonville December 21st. The two people onboard were rescued and not hurt.

Weeks later, Pitchford and shrimp boat expert Brendan Burke believe that boat has broken up in the ocean and is washing ashore.

Much of the debris has nails projecting from the wood, creating concern for beachgoers such as Rick Crouse.

"You have to watch out for it, especially when you get into the rocks (around Marineland) because you can step off into a nail easily without knowing it," Crouse said.

Pitchford said the debris is consistent with that of the trawler. He provided a photo of a framed document found on a piece of debris found in Ponce Inlet which lists "Carolina Girl III." It was found approximately 100 miles south of Jacksonville.

First Coast News found large pieces of debris along the rocks near Marineland inside Flagler County. Burke studied photos of those pieces and believes at least one of the items belonged to the Carolina Girl III.

Another plank of white-painted wood was found in St. Johns County with the letters C and A on it. Pitchford said it looks just like the lettering on the side of the Carolina Girl III.

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Boat debris washes ashore in pieces