A fisherman has been flown to Whakatane Hospital after being impaled by a marlin's bill.
A rescue helicopter was called out to Waihau Bay at 11.30 this morning to pick up the injured 55-year-old.
He and two others had caught a marlin, but while trying to get the fish into the boat the man was impaled by the marlin's spear-like bill through his lower leg.
It took the boat an hour and a half to get back to Waihau Bay, where it was met by emergency services.
St John paramedics stabilised the man at the Waihau Bay Fire Station.
He was then flown to Whakatane Hospital for further treatment.
The Hamilton man is this afternoon in a stable condition in the hospital's emergency department.