MICHAEL JORDAN proved he can catch more than basketballs by landing a whopping 201kg blue marlin in a fishing competition in North Carolina.

The NBA icon, 57, boarded his £6million yacht ‘Catch 23’ with his crew and hauled in the monster off America’s east coast.

Michael Jordan caught a 201kg blue marlin in a fishing competition in North Carolina
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Michael Jordan caught a 201kg blue marlin in a fishing competition in North CarolinaCredit: Instagram @bigrocktournament

The NBA icon was aboard his £6m yacht 'Catch 23'
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The NBA icon was aboard his £6m yacht ‘Catch 23’Credit: Instagram @bigrocktournament
Despite the impressive size of the beast, it was not enough for a spot in the top three in the Big Rock Blue Marlin tournament.

The star of recent Netflix documentary The Last Dance brought in the mammoth catch to place fifth until a 204kg fish came in on board another vessel soon after to bump his team down to sixth.

The leading marlin with two days of the competition left weighed a staggering 224kg, reminding fans of another well loved Netflix show – Chasing Monsters with fishing icon Cyril Chauquet.

Jordan’s boat ‘Catch 23’, named after the No23 jersey he wore for the Chicago Bulls for most of his historic career, is not even the biggest vessel in his collection.

The £6m 80-foot Viking sportsfishing yacht has his Jordan brand elephant print along the side and a panther on the stern.

MJ competed alongside his crew but the fish was not big enough to win any prizemoney yet
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MJ competed alongside his crew but the fish was not big enough to win any prizemoney yetCredit: Instagram @bigrocktournament

The Viking sportsfishing yacht is not the biggest vessel in Jordan's collection


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The Viking sportsfishing yacht is not the biggest vessel in Jordan’s collectionCredit: Instagram @bigrocktournament
His other boat is a £63million 230-foot beast which is said to cost £660,000-a-week to run.

But with a net worth of £1.65billion, Jordan hardly needs the cash.

Speaking after the catch, Jordan said: “I would love to be back with a little bit bigger fish.

“It’s been a while since I have been to Morehead City.

“It’s only about 100 miles from where I grew up in Wilmington. It’s always great to be able to come back and see some friends.”

“Even though I didn’t win, right now, today, I’d like to thank everyone for supporting the tournament.”

And Crystal Hesmer, the tournament’s executive director, said: “Oh my gosh, for Michael Jordan to be in our same air space is exciting and thrilling enough, but for him to land a fish at our tournament and bring it in is thrilling for the entire town.

“It’s unbelievable that he’s here in our little town.”

The six-day tournament features 205 boats from around the world with a £1.25m prize going to the team who catch the largest fish.

Jordan also boasts two impressive properties – a £12m estate in Chicago and a £6m mountainside retreat in Utah.