This is the moment a flying fish soars through the air and lands directly on an excited fisherman’s boat in California.

The unusual catch was filmed at the island of San Clemente, the southernmost of the Channel Islands of California, earlier in June.

Connor Van Orden, who comes from southern California and recently got his commercial fishing licence to “learn more about the fishing world”, said he was in the waters around San Clemente Island at around 1am when the fish flew onto his boat.

Van Orden, who owns his own media production company, told Newsflash: “The captain and I were attempting to catch these fish for bait. He hadn’t caught any and then this one flew onto the boat. It was the first fish for me!”

He added: “I’ve fished my whole life and love it. However, commercial fishing is much more taxing. Long hours, usually well into the night until about 3am, and early mornings starting around 6.30am.”

In the footage, the captain has a net extended in the water as Van Orden instinctively turns and films an approaching glowing object in the night sky.

He whoops loudly as the object turns out to be a flying fish that apparently hits the boat’s handrail and ends up flapping on the deck.

Meanwhile, the two excited fishermen laugh and cheer after their first catch of the day literally ‘fell from the sky’ for them.