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

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 271 (102 weighed and 169 released).

Released billfish (191) were noted as a total number, but all weights were “guesstimations,” and you know how fishermen are. These numbers do reflect into the ranking, since the top deckmen 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 Deckmen

Deckman Capt. John Verfurth took top honors as the 2019 Top Charter Sportfishing Deckman among the 20 deckmen that caught a billfish during the year.

John weighed seven blue marlin, second most, totaling 1,781.8 pounds, highest total blue weight. He also weighed the largest blue of the year at 728.0 pounds and the third largest blue of the year at 503.8 pounds

John also released another 20 blue marlin, most among the deckmen, totaling an estimated weight of 4,150 pounds, the highest total release weight.

This gave him a total of 27 blue marlin captured, most among the deckmen, for a grand total of 5,931.8 pounds, the highest total capture weight.

John released one striped marlin estimated at 50 pounds. He also weighed two spearfish and released another four, most released, totaling 90 pounds, the highest total release weight. This gave John a total of six spearfish captured, most captured, totaling 150 pounds, the highest total capture weight.

This gave John a total of 34 billfish captured, the most billfish captured among the deckmen, for a grand total of 6,131.8 pounds, the highest total capture weight.

John weighed three yellowfin ahi over 100 pounds, the most caught, totaling 333.8 pounds, the highest total weight.

Taking the second place deckman spot was Summer Smith. He weighed one blue marlin totaling 333.2.pounds. This, ironically was the ninth largest blue of the year.

Summer also released another 16 blue marlin, second most, totaling 2,555 pounds, the second highest total release weight. This gave him a total of 17 blue marlin captured, fourth most, totaling 2,888.2 pounds, the fourth highest total capture weight.

Summer weighed two striped marlin totaling 88 pounds. He also released five more, the most released, totaling 200 pounds, the highest total estimated weight. This gave him a total of nine striped marlin captured, the most captured, totaling 290 pounds, the highest total capture weight.

Summer also weighed three spearfish totaling 85 pounds.

This gave Summer a total of 27 billfish captured, second most, for a grand total of 3,260.8 pounds, the third highest total capture weight.

The third place spot went to Kapono Brown. During a six-month run, he weighed six blue marlin in three-way tie for third most, totaling 888.0 pounds. Kapono also released 14 blue marlin, third most, totaling 2,075 pounds, the third highest total estimated weight. This gave him 20 blue marlin captured, second most, totaling 2,963.0 pounds, the third highest total capture weight.

Kapono released one striped marlin estimated at 50 pounds. He also weighed three spearfish in three-way tie for second most, totaling 100 pounds.

One more spearfish was released estimated at 20 pounds. This gave him a total of four spearfish captured, tied for second most, totaling 120 pounds, second highest total capture weight.

This gave Kapono a total of 25 billfish captured, third most, for a grand total of 3,133.0 pounds, the fourth highest total capture weight. n