Fisherman hooks unidentified human remains in New Jersey reservoir

A NEW Jersey fisherman received a shock when he hooked human remains while fishing at a reservoir roughly 80km west of New York City.

In a statement obtained by the Hunterdon County Democrat, prosecutor Anthony Kearns III and the New Jersey State Police said that the "partial human remains" were found at Round Valley Reservoir.

"The partial remains were recovered by a fisherman who reported his hooks snagged the remains. Authorities were contacted and retrieved the remains when the fisherman returned to shore," the release said.

The remains are now in the custody of the Hunterdon County medical examiner, the Democrat reported.

Authorities are attempting to identify further remains, but say it is too early to say how the body ended up in the reservoir.

"This is an active investigation. It is early to determine if the remains are those of a person that had gone missing over the years at the reservoir, or the remains of a victim of foul play," Kearns said.