From left, Mike Roskopf, Capt. Jason Duby and deckman Rob Cosgrove caught this 600.7-pound marlin last year.

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

I look at all of 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 deckmen…

Top deckman for 2014 honors go to Rob “Catfish” Cosgrove, among the 20 deckmen (non-captains) that caught a billfish during the year. He accumulated his fish aboard the Action and Start Me Up Again.

Rob weighed six blue marlin (second most) totaling 2,362.4 pounds (highest blue weight). Two of the blue marlin were in the top four for the year: 669.4 (second largest) and 600.7 pounds (fourth largest). He also released one blue estimated at 250 pounds. This gave him seven blue marlin captured (second most) totaling 2,612.4 pounds (highest blue marlin capture weight among the group).

Rob weighed three striped marlin (second most) totaling 104.1 pounds (third highest). He also released two striped marlin totaling an estimated 75 pounds. This gave Rob five striped marlin captured (fifth most) totaling 179.1 pounds (sixth highest capture weight).

Rob weighed seven spearfish (tied for most among the group) totaling 193.2 pounds (highest total weight). His largest (48.2 pounds) was the largest of the year. This gave Rob seven spearfish captured (tied for second most captured) totaling 193.2 pounds (second highest capture weight).

This gave Rob 19 total billfish for the year (third most billfish captured) totaling 2,984.7 pounds (second highest billfish capture weight).

Hooking the second place deckman spot was Chris Cole. He accumulated his fish aboard the top boat for the year, Start Me Up Again.

Chris weighed seven blue marlin (most blues caught among the group) totaling 1,793.4 pounds (second highest blue weight). He also released one blue estimated at 175 pounds. This gave Chris eight blue marlin captured (tied for most blues captured) totaling 1,968.4 pounds (third highest blue capture weight).

Chris weighed five striped marlin (most caught) totaling 163.2 pounds (highest striped marlin weight). He also released four striped marlin (fourth most) totaling an estimated 150 pounds (fifth highest). This gave Chris nine striped marlin captured (second most captured) totaling 313.2 pounds (second highest capture weight).

Chris weighed seven spearfish (tied for most among the group) weighing 185.9 pounds (second highest total weight). This gave Chris seven spearfish captured (tied for second most captured) totaling 185.9 pounds (third highest capture weight).

This gave Chris 24 total billfish for the year (second most billfish captured) totaling 2,467.5 pounds (third highest billfish capture weight).

Deckman Peter Wong took third place, accumulating his billfish aboard the Hinatea.

Peter weighed three blue marlin (three way tie for third most) totaling 1,078.6 pounds (fifth highest blue weight). He also released five blues (most released) totaling an estimated 1,425 pounds (highest blue release weight). This gave Peter eight blue marlin captured (tied for most captured) totaling 2,503.6 pounds (second highest blue capture weight).

Peter weighed two striped marlin (three way tied for third most) totaling 123.4 pounds (second highest striped marlin weight). He also released 14 striped marlin (most among the group) totaling an estimated 502 pounds (highest release weight). This gave Peter 16 striped marlin captured (most captured) totaling 625.4 pounds (highest capture weight).

Peter released eight spearfish (most released) totaling an estimated 240 pounds (highest release weight).

This gave Peter 32 billfish for the year (most billfish captured) totaling 3,369.0 pounds (highest billfish capture weight).

After only fishing for the first three months of the year, deckman Brandon Maxwell ended up in fourth place. He accumulated his billfish aboard the Jun Ken Po.

Brandon weighed two blue marlin totaling 1,218.1 pounds (fourth highest blue weight). One of his blues was a 684.9-pound fish that was the third largest of the year. His other blue made the 500-pound club at 533.2 pounds (11th largest).

Brandon weighed two striped marlin (three way tie for third most) totaling 72 pounds. He also released five striped marlin (third most) totaling an estimated 165 pounds (fourth highest release weight). This gave him seven striped marlin captured (third most captured) totaling 237 pounds (fourth highest capture weight).

Brandon also weighed two spearfish totaling 55 pounds. This gave Brandon 11 billfish for the year (fourth most billfish captured) totaling 1,510.1 pounds (fourth highest billfish capture weight).