A 54-year-old fisherman is safe after his 14-foot boat capsized as he was landing a 230-pound tuna in the ocean off Hawaii.  

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued Anthony Wichman after receiving a distress call from his wife.

Wichman was fishing about 10 miles southwest of Port Allen on the island of Kauai (kuh-WEYE’) one Friday morning when he hooked the Ahi tuna. Coast Guard Lt. Jessica Mickelson told Hawaii News Now that Wichman was able to use his cellphone to call his wife for help.

The Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter to rescue Wichman. The Dolphin crew arrived on scene and found Wichman sitting on the hull of his partially submerged vessel. A Coast Guard rescue swimmer was lowered to the water and hoisted Wichman into the helicopter. 

Sector Honolulu and Station Kauai coordinated with Lihue Airport and local emergency medical personnel to arrange for medical transport to Wilcox Memorial Hospital.

Friends arrived on another boat and were able to right Wichman’s boat. They towed it — and the massive fish — back to port.