A Napa fisherman made an unpleasant discovery Wednesday morning, finding a body on the banks of the Napa River off Riverside Drive and Oak Street.

The name of the male victim, who is in his 40s, has not been released, pending the notification of the next of kin, Napa County Sheriff’s Capt. Gene Lyerla said Wednesday afternoon.

Napa Police Sgt. Tim Cantillon said one of the officers at the scene recognized the body. “We are pretty sure we know who it is, but we cannot release the name until we get the OK from the coroner’s office.”

The man was found lying face down in dirt and grass about six to seven feet from the road, his head a short distance from a huge tree root that had been uprooted and washed against the river bank.

According to officers at the scene, the victim had a cut on his head, “But it was not a major injury,” Napa Police Detective Todd Shulman said. “There were no other obvious signs of blunt trauma, but we cannot confirm that until an autopsy is done.”

After the coroner arrived, an officer searched the victim and removed a pouch of tobacco and some papers. The victim was not carrying identification.

Cantillon said investigators are talking to people who spent time with the victim prior to his death, attempting to retrace what the man did and where he was before he died.

“At this point we are not ruling out anything (including foul play) until our investigation is completed. It’s way too early,” he said. “We don’t know if the death is accidental or intentional.”

Cantillon said the man had been dead no longer than 24 hours and probably less than 12 hours.

That stretch of the river is a popular hang out for fishermen and the homeless.

Anyone with information about the death is asked to call Shulman at 257-9575.