A man has survived treading water for six hours after being dragged out of his boat by a marlin off the coast of Western Australia.

The fisherman, believed to be in his 20s, was in a boat on his own when the drama began.

He hooked a marlin - a game fish that can weigh up to 400kg.

But the giant fish dragged him overboard and his boat drifted away.

He was found hours later by a passing fishing boat.


Exmouth Volunteer Marine Rescue Group Commander Rusty Ellis said the man was "extremely lucky" to be found in such a remote area.

"He was just one tiny little head bobbing in the ocean," he said.

Cmdr Ellis added that Tuesday's rescue highlighted the need for anglers to take proper safety precautions when fishing off Australia's west coast, with two lone fisherman killed at sea near the same area last year.