LAHAINA – Trying to come up with the Top Deckman statistics for billfish involves several variables. I look at all the variables in each category, give them a number and try to come up with a fair ranking. Released billfish were noted as both a total number and estimated weight, but all weights were “guesstimations.” These numbers do reflect into the ranking, since the top deckmen released more billfish than all 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 Charter Sportfishing Deckmen.

Capt. Rob Cosgrove took top honors as the top deckman for Lahaina Harbor in 2018, among the 25 deckmen that caught a billfish during the year.

Rob accumulated his billfish while fishing aboard the Start Me Up Again, Start Me Up La Dat, and Start Me Up Too.

Rob weighed one blue marlin at 274.2 pounds. He also released 19 more, most among the fleet, totaling 2,895 pounds, the highest estimated total release weight.

This gave Rob 20 blue marlin captured, the most captured, totaling 3,169.2 pounds, the second highest total capture weight.

Rob weighed four striped marlin, the most weighed, totaling 184.5 pounds, the highest total weight. He also weighed five spearfish, in a three way tie for second most weighed, totaling 145 pounds, the third highest total weight.

This gave Rob 29 billfish for the year, most billfish captured among the deckmen, totaling 3,498.7 pounds, the highest total billfish capture weight.

Congratulations to Capt. Rob Cosgrove, Top Charter Sportfishing Deckman for Lahaina Harbor in 2018.

Grabbing the second place spot was Sam Thies fishing aboard the Die Hard 2, and Reel Hooker.

Sam weighed nine blue marlin, second most, totaling 1,382.6 pounds, the second highest total weight. His largest blue weighed 418.4 pounds. He also released five blue marlin, fourth most, totaling 1,030 pounds, the fifth highest estimated total release weight.

This gave Sam 14 blue marlin captured, third most, totaling 2,412.6 pounds, the fourth highest total capture weight.

Sam weighed three striped marlin, second most, totaling 160 pounds, the second highest total weight. He also weighed five spearfish, in a three-way tie for second most, totaling 169.6 pounds, the second highest total weight.

This gave Sam 22 billfish captured for the year, second most billfish captured, totaling 2,742.4 pounds, the third highest total billfish capture weight.

Sam had a good year for big ahi, weighing nine over 100 pounds, most weighed, totaling 1,068.3 pounds, the highest total ahi weight. He also weighed four between 90 and 99 pounds and four between 80 and 90 pounds.

The third place spot went to Capt. Chris Canaiy fishing aboard the Hinatea.

Chris weighed 13 blue marlin, most among the fleet, totaling 2,944.1 pounds, the highest total weight. His largest, a 753.5-pounder, was the biggest blue marlin of the year. He also released two blue marlin totaling 240 pounds.

This gave Chris 15 blue marlin captured, second most, totaling 3,184.1 pounds, the highest total capture weight.

Chris weighed one striped marlin at 47 pounds while releasing one estimated at 80 pounds. This gave Chris two striped marlin captured, tied for second most, totaling 127 pounds, the fourth highest total capture weight. He also weighed three spearfish totaling 105 pounds.

This gave Chris 20 billfish captured for the year, third most captured, totaling 3,416.1 pounds, the second highest total billfish capture weight.

In fourth place was John French. He accumulated his billfish aboard the Start Me Up Again, Start Me Up La Dat, Start Me Up Too, and Jun Ken Po.

John weighed two blue marlin totaling 698.0 pounds. His largest was a 465.8-pounder. He also released 11 blue marlin, tied for second most, totaling 1,770 pounds, the second highest estimated total release weight.

This gave John 13 blue marlin captured, fourth most, totaling 2,468.0 pounds, the third highest total capture weight.

John weighed one striped marlin at 82.6 pounds and released one estimated at 40 pounds. This gave John two striped marlin captured, in a three way tie for third most, totaling 122.6 pounds. He also weighed three spearfish totaling 70 pounds.

This gave John 18 billfish captured for the year, tied for fourth most captured, totaling 2,660.6 pounds, the fourth highest total billfish capture weight.