LAHAINA – Trying to come up with the top charter boat statistics for billfish has several variables. Just looking at total numbers doesn’t reflect all the variables in the final rankings for the top Lahaina Harbor Charter Sportfishing boats.

The billfish numbers overall weren’t that bad – the third highest over the past nine years.

Obviously, everyone looks at the number of blue marlin caught and total weight as an indicator of the top ranking. The blue marlin numbers (103) were the third lowest in 27 years. It was a good year for big blue marlin though, with 25 over 400 pounds. There were four 600-pounders, nine 500-pounders and 12 400-pounders. There were also 18 blues in the 300-pound range.

The good striped marlin numbers (111) were the best in eight years, and the shortnose spearfish (105) were a factor. The majority of the spearfish were “guesstimated,” so their total weight numbers are ballpark and lower ranked.

Tagged or released billfish (21 blue, 43 striped and 28 spearfish) were noted as both a total number and estimated weight, but all weights were “guesstimations,” and you know how fishermen are. These numbers do reflect into the ranking, since some boats release more billfish than others and should get due credit.

I look at all the variables in each category, give them a number and try to come up with a fair ranking. The final statistics are my own and are open to opinion and interpretation.

Now, the rankings for the top boats

The 37-foot Bertram Start Me Up Again captured the top Lahaina Harbor Charter Sportfishing boat title among the 17 boats that caught a billfish in 2014.

It weighed 11 blue marlin (most among the fleet) totaling 3,550.1 pounds (highest blue weight). It weighed two of the top four blue marlin (669.4, 600.7). The Start Me Up Again also released two blue marlin estimated at 425 total pounds. This gave them a total of 13 blue marlin captured (highest among the fleet) totaling 3,975.1 pounds (highest total blue marlin capture weight).

The Start Me Up Again weighed eight striped marlin (third most) totaling 322.5 pounds (third highest total weight) It also released six striped marlin (third most) totaling an estimated 225 pounds (third highest estimated weight). This gave them a total of 14 striped marlin captured (third most) totaling 547.5 pounds (third highest capture weight).

It weighed ten spearfish (second most) totaling 290.2 pounds (highest total weight).

The boat’s 37 billfish (second most captured) weighed a grand total of 4,812.8 pounds (highest total capture weight).

The 37-foot Merritt Finest Kind finished in second place among the fleet. It weighed ten blue marlin (tied for second most) totaling 3,386.5 pounds (second highest blue weight). It weighed three blues in the 500-pound club (568.8, 544.7, 533.4). This gave them a total of ten blue marlin captured (tied for second highest) totaling 3,386.5 pounds (second highest total blue marlin capture weight).

The Finest Kind weighed 16 striped marlin (most among the fleet) totaling 596.3 pounds (highest total weight). This gave them a total of 16 striped marlin captured (second most) totaling 596.3 pounds (second highest capture weight).

It weighed nine spearfish (third most) totaling 262.1 pounds (third highest total weight).

The boat’s 35 billfish (third most captured) weighed a grand total of 4,244.9 pounds (third highest total capture weight).

The 41-foot Hatteras Hinatea took the third place spot. It weighed four blue marlin totaling 1,578.2 pounds, with three in the 400-pound club (499.6, 412.6, 400.2). It also released six blue marlin (most released) estimated at 1,500 pounds (highest estimated release weight). This gave them a total of ten blue marlin captured (tied for second highest) totaling 3,078.2 pounds (third highest total blue marlin capture weight).

The Hinatea weighed six striped marlin (fourth most) totaling 311.1 pounds (fourth highest total weight). It also released 14 striped marlin (most among the fleet) estimated at 502 total pounds (highest estimated weight). This gave them a total of 20 striped marlin captured (most captured among the fleet) totaling 813.1 pounds (highest capture weight).

It weighed eight spearfish (tied for fourth most) totaling 225 pounds (fifth most), and released 12 spearfish (most released among the fleet) estimated at 365 total pounds (highest estimate weight). This gave them a total of 20 spearfish (most captured among the fleet) totaling 590 pounds (highest capture weight).

The boat’s 50 billfish (most captured among the fleet) weighed a grand total of 4,481.3 pounds (second highest total capture weight).