Story at a glance:
- Michael Jordan is in the early lead of the 63rd Big Rock Blue Marlin fishing competition.
- Last year, Jordan caught a 422-pound Marlin.
- He released the fish back into the water because it was the wrong species for the competition.
On his 80-foot Viking Yacht named “Catch 23,” NBA legend Michael Jordan caught a 25-pound fish that landed him in the leading Dolphin Category in a $4.5 million tournament — to be clear, he caught a dolphinfish, also known as mahi mahi, not the mammal dolphin.
For the second time, Jordan participated in the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament in Morehead City. On his first day, he reeled in the dolphinfish, Insider reported.
America is changing faster than ever! Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news.
Jordan’s boat is one of 270 competing in this year’s 63rd annual competition, compared to 204 boats in 2020.
This year’s prize is $3.4 million.
Last year, Jordan had the fourth-biggest catch, a 422-pound blue marlin, which is impressive considering the typical weight of that particular fish is between 200 and 400 pounds, according to National Geographic.
On Monday, the top score on the Big Rock leaderboard was a marlin that weighed nearly 450 pounds, WRAL North Carolina reported.
As exciting as an NBA Hall of Famer catching a dolphinfish at a marlin fishing competition may sound, it was not the appropriate species for the competition and did not count.
Jordan and his eight crew members released the dolphinfish back into the water.
The competition ends this following Saturday, giving Jordan and crew ample time to come back.
READ MORE STORIES FROM CHANGING AMERICA
MAN-SIZED HALIBUT REELED IN IN THE NORTH SEA
CLIMATE CRISIS WILL CRUSH WORLD’S BIGGEST NATIONS TWICE AS HARD AS COVID-19, SAYS NEW STUDY
IN HISTORIC FIRST, CLIMATE ACTIVISTS ARE NOW ON EXXON’S BOARD
BIDEN PROMISES TO CUT US EMISSIONS IN HALF IN LESS THAN 10 YEARS AHEAD OF WORLD CLIMATE SUMMIT
NEW STUDY SAYS THE EARTH COULD SEE SIX MONTH-LONG SUMMERS
SURPRISING STUDY FINDS SHARKS ARE KEY TO RESTORING DAMAGED HABITATS, FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE