The man was fishing off the the south-eastern corner of Melville Island, a remote place off the coast of the Northern Territory in the Timore Sea about 100km from the closest emergency hub.

Crocodiles are frequently spotted around the Tiwi Islands, while the Island remains largely unpopulated with humans.

A fast and collaborative response from emergency services meant the local fisherman returned home uninjured just hours after he activated an emergency beacon when his small boat started filling with water.

Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) Search and Rescue responded to the beacon activation, tasking the Northern Territory (NT) Water Police.

According to the initial incident report, the man was first located by Border Force aircraft flying in the area, who communicated directly with Darwin Water Police to confirm the man's position - in a remote location and unable to access land.

NT Water Police Search and Rescue coordinator, Travis Edwards, said the man's quick activation of the beacon meant response was fast and the man was rescued in just a few short hours.

"Australia is really fortunate to have great search and rescue systems and equipment in place," he said.

"Today's rescue illustrates how effective these are, and how efficient they can be when safety equipment is carried and activated appropriately."

The CareFlight helicopter was called to the scene, delivering emergency crews on a beach close to the man, just before 4pm.

The boat had split down the centre and become swamped in the shallow water, so was left.

Uninjured, the man and his fishing gear was flown back to Darwin before 5pm.

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