Michael Jordan is an avid open sea fisher. During the fishing season, MJ spends time traveling the coast in his 8 million dollar fishing boat to participate in fishing competitions. MJ and his boat Catch 23’ have been registered for The White Marlin Open in Ocean City for the last few years. Jordan is currently back in town as the tournament is set for August 5th-August 9th.
For many years now, the arrival of Jordan’s private plane at the Salisbury airport has been something local residents look out for. On Sunday, the plane arrived for this year’s tournament. CATCH 23′, Jordan’s boat, is powered by MTU engines and has a max speed of 40 knots and a range of more than 500 nm. The yacht can accommodate eight guests and a crew of two. The 216 square-foot cockpit is built for deep-sea fishing. There’s a transom door, a massive freezer, a large storage space, and fish wells The boat features Jordan’s signature elephant skin print that is also on his private jet. The elephant skin print was used on the Jordan 3s sneakers.
The White Marlin Open is a 51-year-old deep-sea fishing tournament held annually in Ocean City, Maryland. Long known as the “World’s Largest Billfishing Tournament,” the Open has awarded over $105 million for catches of the gamefish that migrate up the Gulf Stream each summer. The first tournament was held in 1974 and drew 57 boats, 150 anglers, and paid $20,000 in prize money.
Last year, Montgomery County resident John Ols (Laytonsville) caught a 640.5 lb blue marlin, earning him a world record of $6.2 million. Building on the excitement of last year’s milestone 50th-anniversary event, the $50,000 white marlin ‘Winner Take All’ entry category will return as well as Marlin Fest, a free family-friendly event held in conjunction with the tournament on the Inlet beach.
The tournament begins on August 5th and goes until August 9th this year. Additional information can be found here.
