The Coast Guard rescued a 56-year-old man after his fishing vessel capsized off of Kauai this morning.

At about 8 a.m., the fisherman sent an emergency-positioning alert indicating potential distress to the Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu.

He had been fishing about 12 miles west of Kikiaola Harbor when a large wave overwhelmed his 24-foot fishing vessel. Seven-foot wave conditions caused his boat to capsize, according to a Coast Guard news release.

The Coast Guard said the fisherman was wearing a life jacket, and no injuries were reported.

An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and 45-foot response boat crew from Coast Guard Station Kauai responded to the scene. The helicopter arrived at about 10 a.m. and spotted the fisherman at 10:17 a.m. when he fired a flare.

“We commend this mariner for ensuring he took all the necessary safety precautions before going on his fishing trip,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Crystal Escalante, a duty watchstander at the Joint Rescue Coordination Center, in the release. He noted that the fisherman’s properly registered radio beacon alert as well as the flare and life jacket expedited the rescue effort.

A free Coast Guard safety application available on iPhone and Android devices includes distress report information linked to a command center.