The Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament is known as one of the biggest fishing events in the country.
Fittingly, Michael Jordan entered this year’s 62nd installment of the annual tournament and made an immediate impact.
Jordan and the crew on his boat, “Catch 23,” reeled in a 442.3-pound blue marlin on Tuesday, the second day of the tournament in the basketball great’s home state of North Carolina.
Video captured “Catch 23” pulling in toward the docks in Morehead City, North Carolina. When Jordan emerged onto the back deck of his 80-foot Viking, the crowd started cheering and whistling. The marlin then was hoisted up for the weigh-in and came in with an official listing of 442.3 pounds, drawing even more cheers as Jordan and his crew took pictures from behind, cigars in hand.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been back in Morehead City. It’s only about 100 miles from Wilmington, and it’s always great for me to be able to come back,” Jordan said. “I’m happy to be back. Thank you for inviting me.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, Catch 23’s marlin was the fifth-heaviest reeled in. 205 boats are vying at this year’s tournament for a record purse of $3.4 million, with $1.14 million to the first-place finisher.
Jordan said it’s not his first marlin tournament, but is the first one he’s competed in in North Carolina.
“This is a chance for me to come back home. Every chance I get, I love to come back home.”
