Just days after crab season kicked off, the Coast Guard was called to airlift an injured fisherman this weekend.

The man was loading gear aboard the F/V Icy Mist on Sunday when he was struck by a crab pot. His arm and leg were hurt badly enough that a Coast Guard duty surgeon recommended a medevac.

The Icy Mist was about 150 miles south of Sand Point -- hours away from the nearest flight base.

But Petty Officer Kelly Parker says there was a Jayhawk helicopter on standby in Cold Bay.

"We have a seasonal air station there for these types of cases," Parker says. "Right now, it’s busy fishing season. We want to make sure we’re in a location where we can respond quickly to any type of maritime incident."

The helicopter crew hoisted the injured crabber and brought him to the Cold Bay clinic for treatment on Sunday night. He was in good condition when he arrived.

Parker says the Coast Guard will keep a helicopter crew in Cold Bay until crab fishing winds down in April.