LAHAINA – Trying to determine the top captain 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 captains.

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 Lahaina sportfishing captains

Capt. Jonny Keiley was the top sportfishing charter boat captain for Lahaina Harbor in 2015, among the 30 captains that caught a billfish. He accumulated his billfish while fishing aboard the top charter boat of 2015, Action.

Jonny weighed 12 blue marlin, third most among the captains, totaling 2,573.8 pounds, the fifth highest total blue weight. He weighed the third largest blue of the year (714.2). He also released 20 blue marlin – most released among the captains – estimated at 2,475 pounds, the third highest total release weight.

This gave Jonny 32 blue marlin captured (the highest blue capture total) totaling 5,048.8 pounds, the highest total blue capture weight.

Jonny weighed two striped marlin (in a three-way tie for most weighed) totaling 128.0 pounds, the highest total weight. He also weighed 12 spearfish (the most weighed) totaling 314.7 pounds, the highest total weight, and released one estimated at 25 pounds. This gave him a total of 13 spearfish (the most captured) totaling 339.7 pounds, the highest total capture weight.

This gave Jonny 47 billfish for the year – the most billfish captured among the captains – totaling 5,516.5 pounds, the highest total capture weight.

Grabbing the second place spot was Capt. Greg France, fishing aboard the third place charter boat Hinatea. Greg weighed seven blue marlin (seventh most) totaling 1,782.4 pounds, the eighth highest total blue weight. He weighed two 500-pound blues, at 578.6 (fifth largest) and 503.8 pounds (ninth largest). Greg also released 15 blue marlin (tied for second most released) estimated at 2,515 pounds, the second highest total release weight.

This gave Greg 22 blue marlin captured (second most) totaling 4,297.4 pounds, the second highest total blue capture weight.

Greg released one striped marlin estimated at 50 pounds. He also weighed four spearfish totaling 136 pounds. This gave Greg 27 billfish for the year – the fourth most billfish captured – totaling 4,483.4 pounds, the second highest total capture weight.

The third place spot went to Capt. Chris Cole. He accumulated his billfish fishing aboard the Start Me Up Again, and Jun Ken Po. Chris weighed nine blue marlin, fifth most, totaling 2,577.6 pounds, the fourth highest total blue weight.

He weighed the Memorial Day “Grander” at 1,058.3 pounds. It is the largest marlin landed on Maui since July 18, 2007. It is also the second largest charter boat marlin and sixth largest marlin landed on Maui since 1983.

Chris also released nine blue marlin (the third most released) estimated at 1,560 pounds, the fourth highest total release weight. This gave him 18 blue marlin captured (the fourth most) totaling 4,137.6 pounds, the third highest total blue capture weight.

Chris weighed five spearfish totaling 169 pounds. This gave him 23 billfish for the year (in a three-way tie for fifth most billfish captured) totaling 4,306.6 pounds, the third highest total capture weight.

Capt. Jukka Hyytia finished in the fourth place spot while fishing aboard the top charter boat Action. Jukka weighed 11 blue marlin, fourth most, totaling 2,598.6 pounds, the second highest blue weight. He weighed 553.3 (seventh largest) and a 474.2-pound marlin.

Jukka also released six blue marlin (tied for fifth most released) estimated at 935 pounds. This gave Jukka 17 blue marlin captured – tied for fifth most – totaling 3,533.6 pounds, the fifth highest total blue capture weight.

Jukka weighed one striped marlin at 78.5 pounds. He also weighed five spearfish totaling 138 pounds. This gave him 23 billfish for the year – the fifth most billfish captured – totaling 3,750.1 pounds, the sixth highest total capture weight.