Keith Lusher 08.21.25
Michael Jordan may be used to winning championships, but the NBA legend had to settle for second place at this year’s White Marlin Open in Ocean City, Maryland. The basketball icon’s 82-foot Bayliss yacht “Catch 23” finished as runner-up in the white marlin category, earning $389,377 after Charleston angler Trey “Cricket” McMillan landed a 71-pound white marlin.
The catch came just one pound short of first place, which went to Dan Gough aboard the Billfisher with a 72-pound marlin worth $3.9 million. That single pound difference cost Jordan’s crew over $3.5 million.
McMillan, who has competed in the tournament for 20 years, described the catch as happening early in the morning after the boat traveled 87 miles offshore, a journey that took over three hours. About 15 minutes after dropping lines, the fish struck on a flatline, and McMillan fought it alone for 20 minutes under tournament rules that prohibit any assistance from crew members.
“The fishing was pretty chaotic last week,” McMillan said. “The fishing was not great; the weather was really questionable on a lot of the days.”
The 52-year-old White Marlin Open, known as the “world’s largest and richest billfish tournament,” attracted 282 boats this year. Weather conditions forced organizers to extend the typically five-day event to seven days, with boats allowed to fish only three of those days.
Tournament rules are strict: no boat can begin fishing before 8 a.m., and all qualifying fish must be hooked before 3:30 p.m. Any angler receiving assistance during the fight, except to prevent falling overboard, disqualifies the catch.
Jordan’s presence drew considerable attention, with crowds gathering at Harbour Island Marina hoping to catch a glimpse of the six-time NBA champion. When Catch 23 returned to harbor, the tournament’s sound system played “Sirius,” the Chicago Bulls’ entrance music synonymous with Jordan’s playing days.
This marks Jordan’s second consecutive strong showing at the prestigious tournament. Last year, Catch 23 won first place in the dolphin category with a 32.5-pound fish worth $64,094.
The White Marlin Open has paid out over $95 million in prizes since its inception in 1974, attracting anglers of all skill levels who pay $1,700 to participate. For Jordan and his crew, while second place may sting slightly, it represents a significant achievement in one of sport fishing’s most competitive arenas.
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