Michael Jordan Reels In 71-Pound White Marlin During World’s Biggest Fishing Contest

Michael Jordan made headlines off the court lately when he reeled in a whopper, a 71-pound white marlin, while competing in the annual White Marlin Open in Ocean City, Maryland . The Chicago Bulls All-Time Great entered the tournament alongside his club-like and super yacht, Catch 23. The tournament is often referred to as the “Super Bowl of fishing” with total purse prize money of $7 million available in various categories.

Jordan’s fish was not the biggest win of the tournament, but was still good enough for second place and gave his crew a check for $390,000.

The prize-winning catch was pulled in by angler Trey “Cricket” McMillan of Charleston, South Carolina, who was a member of Jordan’s team on the Catch 23. McMillan’s marlin was only one pound shy of the top catch—a 72-pound marlin caught by Dan Gough—but the buzz of Jordan being a competitor good enough to elevate the tournament’s attention level.

Steve Kerr Says Michael Jordan’s First Retirement Reshaped His Career Path

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr credited Michael Jordan’s 1993 baseball sabbatical with reviving his own NBA trajectory, revealing that he arrived in Chicago on a non‑guaranteed deal expecting to play alongside Jordan but instead found unexpected opportunity.

Speaking on the Glue Guys podcast, Kerr said Jordan’s absence opened minutes he needed to stick in the league and prove his value on a contender. What hurt the Bulls at the time, he acknowledged, ended up extending his career.

“So, it actually was to my benefit in some ways that he went because it opened up a bunch of playing time,” Kerr said. “It was bad for the rest of the Bulls and their fan base, but it was good for me.”

With Jordan out, Kerr’s role expanded under Phil Jackson, where he absorbed the triangle offense and learned alongside Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, and Bill Cartwright. His court time and production climbed, helping him reestablish himself as a reliable shooter and decision‑maker after five modest seasons that had him flirting with the league’s exit.

With Michael Jordan driving the Chicago Bulls success, the team won six NBA championships (1991–1993, 1996–1998), and he won five league MVP renerations. A clutch performer and supremely competitive player, Jordan was named scoring champion ten times and to the All-Defensive First Team nine times.