Michael Jordan is among the greatest—if not the greatest—players in NBA history. He’s quite skilled with a fishing rod as well.
The NBA icon is allegedly in Maryland this week to take part in the 46th annual White Marlin Open, which offers a total prize pool of about $6.1 million. While tournament officials haven’t confirmed Jordan’s participation, reports show that both his plane and 80-foot yacht are docked in Ocean City, Maryland, where the weeklong competition is happening.
Jordan’s 80-foot Viking yacht named “Catch 22,” featuring an elephant-pattern wrap, was seen in a slip at a marina. His private jet, which is similarly wrapped in elephant print, was spotted at Salisbury Regional Airport, according to a local ABC affiliate. This distinctive print matches the design on his iconic Air Jordan 3 sneakers.
The White Marlin Open is a renowned fishing tournament with substantial financial stakes. Prize money is awarded for catches including white marlin, blue marlin, tuna, dolphin, wahoo, and sharks. Participants like Jordan pay $30,000 to enter the competition in select categories, while those on a tighter budget can join for as little as $1,000.
At day’s end, catches are weighed to check if there’s a new leader. (Photo courtesy White Marlin Open)
Even though the tournament commenced on Monday, August 5, the 56-year-old Jordan has not yet begun fishing. Each boat participating can fish for three days. The tournament has over 400 boats registered, boasting a projected prize purse of $6.14 million.
On Tuesday, the tournament featured 335 boats and a total of 2,345 anglers. Organizers noted it’s uncommon for so many boats to head out early in the five-day event, but the warm sea temperatures have created excellent fishing conditions.
While it’s still early in the White Marlin Open, there have been some significant winners. The Chasin’ Tail boat successfully caught a 75-pound white marlin, currently leading for a $1.45 million prize. In the blue marlin category, Craig Dickerson landed a 465-pound blue marlin, potentially earning him $740,000. A 201-pound tuna caught off the Crisdel is also holding strong at $940,000.
The prize money is awarded to anglers who catch the largest fish within each category. A participant might have the biggest catch early on but can be surpassed as the tournament progresses. That’s why many anglers choose to wait until later in the event to start fishing.
To find out if Michael Jordan makes a big catch, follow the White Marlin Open at whitemarlinopen.com.