Michael Jordan’s legendary competitive fire burns just as bright on the high seas as it did on the basketball court.
The six-time NBA champion and his crew aboard the 82-foot yacht “Catch 23” secured a lucrative second-place finish at the prestigious White Marlin Open in Ocean City, Maryland, earning $389,377 in prize money after angler Trey “Cricket” McMillan landed a magnificent 71-pound white marlin.
The Fishing Tale
According to The Chesapeake Bay Magazine, the finish represents Jordan’s most successful showing at the world’s richest billfish tournament, a 52-year-old competition that draws elite anglers and celebrities from around the globe. Jordan’s custom Bayliss Boatworks fishing machine, distinguished by its eye-catching paint job and numbered after his iconic jersey, has become a familiar sight in Ocean City waters.
“I’ve been fishing this tournament for 36 years — and to finally win it, it’s just incredible,” said tournament champion Dan Gough, whose 72-pound marlin aboard the Billfisher claimed the top prize of $3.9 million, edging out Jordan’s crew by a single pound, according to WJLA.
When asked if beating Michael Jordan’s team by such a narrow margin made the victory sweeter, Gough laughed and replied, “Without a doubt, without a doubt. I’ll play him in cards, cornhole, and fishing. I’m not doing golf or basketball against him.”
The dramatic conclusion unfolded on Saturday when McMillan, a Charleston, South Carolina, angler, battled the 71-pound white marlin during the tournament’s sixth day.
According to Coast TV, weather conditions had forced organizers to extend fishing opportunities through the weekend, and 211 of the 282 entered boats took advantage of Sunday’s final opportunity. The extended schedule proved crucial, as only two boats managed to bring in qualifying white marlins during the entire weeklong competition.
Jordan’s triumphant return to Ocean City harbor provided a spectacle worthy of his basketball glory days.
The Catch 23 pulled into the dock with “Sirius” blaring over the sound system, the same entrance music that accompanied the Chicago Bulls during their legendary 1990s dynasty. Jordan stood proudly alongside his crew members as cheers erupted from the gathered crowd, and the celebration intensified when the official weigh-in confirmed their second-place standing.
The scene reflected Jordan’s magnetic presence even in retirement.
Images captured the NBA legend posing with his crew and their prized catch, while spectators pressed against windows, desperate for a glimpse of the basketball icon. From the moment Jordan’s private jet arrives at Salisbury Regional Airport each August, all eyes focus on Catch 23 throughout the tournament.
This isn’t Jordan’s first venture into competitive fishing.
His boat placed ninth at the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament in 2020 after hauling in a 442.3-pound blue marlin, and captured victory at the 2021 Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Release Tournament, The Bleacher Reports noted.
The pattern mirrors Jordan’s approach to every competitive endeavor.
Tournament competitor Jimmy David compared the White Marlin Open to fishing’s Super Bowl, noting the event’s ability to attract celebrities, high-ranking officials, and elite anglers, the New York Post reports.
Scott Lenox, creator of Fish in OC, emphasized Jordan’s positive impact on the sport’s visibility.
The 2025 tournament showcased fierce competition beyond the white marlin division.
The Barbara B. crew brought home a massive 929.5-pound blue marlin worth $1.27 million, with angler Drew Osmeyer of Timonium, Maryland, landing the tournament’s second-largest payout. Meanwhile, angler Jonathan Cianciulli earned $764,325 for an 188-pound bluefin tuna aboard Sea Hab, claiming the tournament’s third-largest prize.
The White Marlin Open draws two thousand participants and their families alongside thousands of spectators who gather each evening at the docks. The Ocean City tradition, now in its 52nd year, has evolved into a major economic driver since 1974.
Jordan’s near-miss at fishing’s biggest stage clearly demonstrates that his competitive instincts remain razor-sharp decades after his final NBA championship.
The one-pound margin between victory and second place exemplifies the razor-thin margins that separate champions from contenders, a concept Jordan understood intimately throughout his basketball career. Given his track record of turning setbacks into dominance, next year’s White Marlin Open could witness the basketball legend finally claim fishing’s ultimate prize.
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