A fisherman discovered a dead body Tuesday morning in the Columbia River about a mile west of the Astoria Bridge near the entrance of Youngs Bay.

A Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office marine deputy responded at about 8:30 a.m. in a boat with another deputy and an Astoria Police officer.

The dead body was quite decomposed when the officers recovered it from the river.

“The body had been in the water for some time,” Astoria Police Chief Brad Johnston said.

The identity of the body, including gender, is unknown at this time.

Johnston said the Clatsop County medical examiner is expected to examine the body today and schedule an autopsy.

“We are awaiting positive ID on the body,” Johnston said.