Jordan, Catch 23 Boat Booked For White Marlin Open

OCEAN CITY — The White Marlin Open, which returns next month for the 46thyear, naturally attracts the sportfishing heavyweights, but this year’s lineup will have even more star power with the inclusion of basketball legend Michael Jordan.

For over four decades, the White Marlin Open, deemed the largest billfish tournament in the world, has been one of the highlights of the summer season. The tournament, with more than $5 million in prize money doled out last year including a record $2.5 million to the winner in the signature white marlin division, attracts the top boats, captains and anglers from all over the world.

Over the years, more than a few celebrities have competed and been seen hanging around tournament headquarters in Harbour Island. For example, a few years back baseball Hall of Famer Wade Boggs fished in the tournament and was seen around the marina the entire week.

This year will see perhaps the biggest celebrity ever to compete in the tournament with the arrival of Michael Jordan and his crew on the aptly-named Catch 23. WMO officials this week confirmed the Catch 23, a 80-foot Viking, has officially entered the 2019 tournament. Indeed, a check of current entries, which by mid-week had reached 134, revealed the Catch 23, either by mere coincidence, good timing or perhaps a perfect omen, is entry number 123.

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