An injured swordfish has won the ultimate revenge against the fisherman that wounded it.

After being struck by boat captain Randy Llanes’ speargun on Friday, the fish fought back.

The 47-year-old man had reportedly jumped into the waters of Honokohau Harbor in Hawaii to capture the approximately 180 centimetre-long creature.

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The rope attached to the spear lodged in its body prevented the swordfish from fleeing.

It then swam back towards the man, “thrashed about” and punctured his upper torso, local police Lieutenant William Souther told the media.

The boat captain died later in hospital, and is reportedly survived by a wife and young son.

“This is very, very unusual,” Waikiki Aquarium director Andrew Rossiter told KHON2.

“There have been a couple of cases documented in the past, but almost always it can be attributed to an unfortunate accident or the fish being injured.”

The swordfish is believed to have died.