Tuna crabs invade Laguna, Newport Beach shoreline

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- Thousands of red tuna crabs have washed ashore in Laguna Beach and Newport Beach, and lifeguards say El Nino conditions might have pushed the crabs up from their normal habitat on sandy ocean bottoms.

While some of the crustaceans may be dead, lifeguards say the majority of them will be swept back into the water.

Tuna crabs, which are commonly mistaken for baby lobsters, are usually found in the warm, open waters off Mexico's Baja California Peninsula.

Newport Beach resident Patricia Hale said she was surprised by the mass of tuna crabs.

"All along the beach was orange," Hale said. "There was just an orange line in the sand."

Experts said the crabs haven't been seen this far north in decades. They've also washed up on San Diego beaches in recent weeks.