LAHAINA – 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 total billfish numbers overall (284), same as last year, were the lowest since 2013. Obviously, everyone looks at the number of blue marlin caught and total weight as an indicator of the top ranking.

The blue marlin numbers totaled 185 (86 weighed and 99 released). Ninety-five percent of the blue marlin weighed or released were between 50 and 250 pounds. Last year was below average for big blue marlin weighed, with only ten making it to the scales.

The striped marlin numbers were average. It was the same for the spearfish. The majority of the spearfish were “guesstimated,” so their total weight numbers are ballpark and lower ranked.

Released billfish were noted as both a total number (117), 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 the others and should get due credit.

The final statistics are my own and are open to opinion and interpretation.

Now, the rankings for the Top Lahaina Harbor Charter Sportfishing boats

The 41-Hatteras Hinatea captured the Top Lahaina Harbor Charter Sportfishing boat title among the 14 boats that caught a billfish in 2018.

It weighed 19 blue marlin, most among the fleet, totaling 4,104.0 pounds, the highest total blue weight. The largest was 753.5 pounds, the top blue marlin of the year. It also released four blue marlin totaling 415 pounds.

This gave the Hinatea 23 blue marlin captured, most among the fleet, totaling 4,519.0 pounds, the highest total blue marlin capture weight.

The Hinatea weighed two striped marlin totaling 117 pounds and released one estimated at 80 pounds. This gave them a total of three striped marlin totaling 197 pounds. It also weighed three spearfish totaling 105 pounds.

This gave the Hinatea a total of 29 billfish captured, second most, for a grand total of 4,821.0 pounds, the highest total capture weight.

Taking second place was the 37-Bertram Start Me Up Too.

It weighed seven blue marlin, fourth most, totaling 2,444.2 pounds, the second highest total blue weight.

It weighed three of the top ten blue marlin of the year (582.4 in second, 509.2 in fourth and 451.0 in ninth). It also released 13 blue marlin, third most released, for an estimated total weight of 1,620 pounds, the fourth highest estimated total release weight.

This gave the Start Me Up Too 20 blue marlin captured, third most captured, totaling 4,064.2 pounds, the second highest total blue marlin capture weight.

The Start Me Up Too weighed two striped marlin totaling 90 pounds. It also weighed one spearfish totaling 23 pounds.

This gave the Start Me Up Too a total of 23 billfish captured, fifth most, for a grand total of 4,178.7 pounds, the second highest total capture weight.

The third place Charter Sportfishing boat was the 37-Bertram Start Me Up La Dat. It weighed one blue marlin at 175.0 pounds. It also released 21 blue marlin, most released among the fleet, for an estimated total weight of 3,395 pounds, the highest estimated total release weight.

This gave the Start Me Up La Dat 22 blue marlin captured, second most, totaling 3,570.0 pounds, the third highest total blue marlin capture weight.

The Start Me Up La Dat weighed three striped marlin totaling 127 pounds. It also weighed four spearfish totaling 120 pounds.

This gave the Start Me Up La Dat a total of 29 billfish captured, second most, for a grand total of 3,817.0 pounds, the third highest total capture weight.