U.S. navy sailors retrieve a bale of marijuana on Sat., June 16, 2012, off the coast of California. Military officers from the U.S. and Mexico recovered nearly 19,000 lbs., of pot that was dumped by three boats believed to be destined from the U.S. (U.S. Navy/Handout)

Now that's what you call sea weed.

The U.S. navy said Tuesday it recovered nearly 19,000 lbs. of marijuana that three boats had dumped off the coast of California before they fled.

American and Mexican military officers scooped the bales of drugs out of the Pacific Ocean Saturday afternoon. The shipment had been bound for the U.S.

The lookout crew aboard the American aircraft carrier USS Nimitz spotted two boats nearby while conducting pilot tests. It dispatched a military helicopter to take a closer look. The pilots saw people on a pair of boats toss dozens of bales into the sea, each stuffed with 100 lbs. of pot, the navy said.

"When the Seahawk (helicopter) got overhead, they reported two white single engine boats about 25 feet in length, which immediately began dumping black hefty bags over the side," the navy said.

The boats sped off.

About three hours later, military crews saw occupants of a third boat dump drugs in the ocean. It also fled.

A total of 186 bales of marijuana were recovered.