The Action landed this 714.2-pound marlin on March 11, 2015. It was the third largest among the Lahaina Harbor charter sportfishing boats. PHOTO BY DONNELL TATE.

Trying to come up with the top Lahaina Harbor charter sportfishing boat statistics for billfish involves several variables. Just looking at total numbers doesn’t reflect all the variables in the final rankings.

The El Nino billfish numbers overall (375) were the best in five years, since 2011.

Obviously, everyone looks at the number of blue marlin caught and total weight as an indicator of the top ranking. The blue marlin numbers (275) were the best since 2006.

The below-average striped marlin numbers weighed (20) were the lowest since 2013, and the shortnose spearfish weighed (55) were the lowest since 2010. But this was not much of a factor; the majority of the spearfish were “guesstimated,” so their total weight numbers are ballpark and lower ranked.

Tagged or released billfish (113 blue, eight striped and 16 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 the top boats released 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 charter sportfishing boats

The 32-foot Blackfin Action captured the top Lahaina Harbor charter sportfishing boat title among the 16 boats that caught a billfish in 2015.

It weighed 20 blue marlin, second most among the fleet, totaling 4,778.5 pounds, the highest total blue weight. This gave it a 239-pound average per fish.

It also weighed four of the top blues: 714.2 (third largest), 553.3 (seventh largest), 474.2 and 444.4 pounds.

The Action also released 20 blue marlin, most among the fleet, estimated at 2,475 pounds (third highest release weight). This gave the boat 40 blue marlin captured (most total blues captured) totaling 7,253.5 pounds, the highest total blue capture weight.

The Action also weighed two striped marlin totaling 128.0 pounds. It also weighed 16 spearfish, the most among the fleet, totaling 417.7 pounds, the highest total spearfish weight.

It also took second place with 20 total billfish released, estimated at 2,475 pounds, the fourth highest total release weight.

This gave the Action a total of 58 billfish captured, the most total billfish captured among the fleet, for a grand total of 7,799.2 pounds – the highest total billfish capture weight among the fleet.

The 35-foot Bertram Reel Hooker finished second among the fleet. It weighed 26 blue marlin (most among the fleet) totaling 4,593.5 pounds, the second highest total blue weight. This gave it a 177-pound average per fish.

It also weighed two of the top blues at 568.7 (sixth largest) and 487.5 pounds.

The Reel Hooker also released two blue marlin totaling 300 pounds. This gave the boat 28 blue marlin captured (second most) totaling 4,893.5 pounds, the second highest total blue capture weight.

The Reel Hooker also weighed two striped marlin totaling 85.1 pounds. It also weighed four spearfish totaling 103.1 pounds and released another spearfish estimated at 35 pounds.

This gave the Reel Hooker a total of 35 billfish captured, in a three-way tie for second highest total billfish captured, totaling 5,116.7 pounds, the second highest total billfish capture weight.

The 41-foot Hatteras Hinatea took the third place spot. It weighed nine blue marlin, sixth most, totaling 2,054.0 pounds, the sixth highest total blue weight. This gave it a 177-pound average per fish. It also weighed two of the top blues at 578.6 (fifth largest) and 503.8 pounds (ninth largest).

The Hinatea also released 16 blue marlin, the third most, estimated at 2,665 pounds, the second highest release weight. This gave the boat 25 blue marlin captured (third most) totaling 4,719.0 pounds, the third highest total blue capture weight.

The Hinatea also released three striped marlin totaling 100 pounds. It also weighed four spearfish totaling 136 pounds.

The Hinatea took third place with 19 total billfish released, estimated at 2,765 pounds, the second highest total release weight.

This gave the Hinatea a total of 32 billfish captured (third highest) totaling 4,955.0 pounds, the fourth highest total billfish capture weight.

The 42-foot Dorado Start Me Up Cuz released its way into the fourth place spot. It weighed four blue marlin totaling 1,293.5 pounds. This gave it a 323-pound average per fish. It also weighed the fourth largest blue at 674.5 pounds.

The Cuz also released 17 blue marlin (second most) estimated at 3,235 pounds, the highest release weight. This gave the boat 21 blue marlin captured (fifth most) totaling 4,528.5 pounds, the fourth highest total blue capture weight.

The Cuz weighed one striped marlin at 80 pounds. It also weighed three spearfish totaling 92.3 pounds and released ten more, the most released, estimated at 258 pounds, the highest total release weight.

The Cuz took first place with 27 total billfish released estimated at 3,493 pounds – the highest total release weight.

This gave the Cuz a total of 35 billfish captured – part of a three-way tie for second highest total billfish captured – totaling 4,958.8 pounds, the third highest total billfish capture weight.