Month: October 2021

Third time lucky! Another $10k fish caught

Posted on by Erin

Darwin Harbour has again delivered the goods in the Million Dollar Fish competition, with Palmerston fisho Brendan Graham snagging a $10,000 tagged barra at Middle Arm.

Brendan is the third person to catch a tagged barra as part of Season 7 of Australia’s richest fishing competition. He was out on the harbour with mates taking part in a fishing competition when he caught the 63cm barra. Reece Prior caught the first tagged fish at Daly River, while Danilo Mallari landed the second at Cullen Bay in Darwin Harbour.

“I’ve lived in the Territory for seven or eight years now and registered for the Million Dollar Fish for the last few seasons,” Brendan said. “I have a boat and get out when I can, and couldn’t believe it when I caught a fish and saw a tag in it.

“I was fishing with mates as part of a fishing competition. Not only did I snag a tagged barra – the team I was in also won the competition, so it was a great day on the water.”

Anyone who catches a $10,000 fish gets to donate an additional $1000 to an Official Charity Partner. Brendan chose to donate his $1000 to the Cancer Council NT.

There are still 97 tagged barra worth $10,000 swimming around in Top End waterways, and eight fish worth a million bucks. Once one Million Dollar Fish is caught, the remaining seven turn into $10,000 fish.

SportsBet External Affairs Manager Brad Fanning said it was great to see another fish caught in the first few weeks of the competition.

“Three $10,000 fish down, 97 to go! Plus the eight big ones swimming around out there carrying million dollar tags,” he said. “As the major sponsor of the Million Dollar Fish competition, we’re always stoked to award a cheque to a winning fisho.

“With so many tagged fish just waiting to be caught, now is the time to get out there and wet a line. And remember – any fisho can win the mill. We’ve had fish caught from boats, from land, by experts, by novices. Just get out there and try your luck!”

Season 7 of the Million Dollar Fish competition runs from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022.

To be eligible to claim the cash if you catch a tagged barra, you must be registered for Season 7. Register for free at www.milliondollarfish.com.au.

Jimmy Shu’s Million Dollar Dish

Posted on by Erin

Late last month we were lucky enough to have the Territory’s own Jimmy Shu perform a cooking demonstration at our Million Dollar Fish Season 7 launch event.

The popular chef cooked up his famous Million Dollar Dish, the Meen Moolie, which is coconut poached barramundi infused with lemongrass – a sought-after menu item at his award-winning restaurant in Darwin, Hanuman.

Download the recipe below and check out the video to find out how to re-create this delicious dish at home.

Download the Recipe

 

 

 

Second Season 7 tagged barra caught!

Posted on by Erin

Season 7 of Australia’s richest fishing competition, Million Dollar Fish underwritten by SportsBet, continues to deliver, with lucky fisho Danilo Mallari landing the second prize-tagged barra of the season. Danilo, from Darwin, caught his lucky 85cm $10,000 catch while land-based fishing at Cullen Bay.

It was a birthday barra surprise for Danilo, who celebrated his 50th birthday just last week. The catch follows the first $10,000 fish caught last weekend by Reece Prior at Daly River, also by land-based fishing, after the season began on 1 October 2021.

“We were planning to go to Mandorah for a fish this morning, but decided to stay in Cullen Bay due to the tides,” Danilo said. “We were only fishing for around half an hour when we caught the tagged barra. It wasn’t until we put it in the esky that we saw the red tag. I’ll split the prize money between my wife and children, and buy more fishing equipment to try and chase the Million Dollar Fish. I’m very thankful for the Million Dollar Fish competition and to have this opportunity – this is the first year I’ve registered for the competition and I’m so glad I did!”

For every $10,000 fish caught, the lucky fisho gets to donate an additional $1000 to an official Million Dollar Fish charity partner. Danilo chose Cancer Council NT as the beneficiary of the prize money.

Tanya Izod, Chief Executive Officer of the Cancer Council NT, said she was delighted the charity was chosen.

“A huge thank you to Danilo for donating to Cancer Council NT,” she said. “It’s wonderful to have such huge support for cancer patients in the Northern Territory. This donation will go directly to funding our Nurse-led cancer clinics to provide counselling and support to cancer patients in the NT. Every person who fundraises or attends an event, or volunteers on our programs, becomes part of the fabric that supports cancer patients and their families through their treatment.”

SportsBet External Affairs Manager Brad Fanning said Season 7 was shaping up nicely.

“It’s great to see a second $10,000 fish caught already!” he said. “Season 7 is off to a great start, and SportsBet is hopeful someone will land the big one this season. Two fish in the first seven days of the competition is fantastic. Get out there, get fishing, and get catching yourself some dollars. Remember you must be registered to claim any prize money.”

There are still 98 fish carrying $10,000 tags swimming around in Territory waterways and eight fish worth a million bucks, as all Million Dollar Fish from previous seasons are still active. Over the course of the competition, a Million Dollar Fish has now been released in each of the Top End’s five main fishing regions – Darwin, Katherine, Kakadu, Arnhem Land and the Tiwi Islands.
Season 7 of the Million Dollar Fish competition runs from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022.

To be in the running to claim any winnings from a red-tagged fish you must be registered for Season 7. Register for free at www.milliondollarfish.com.au.

 

 

 

First fish in the bag!

Posted on by Erin

A lucky fisho has caught the first tagged fish in Season 7 of Australia’s richest fishing competition, Million Dollar Fish, underwritten by SportsBet. Reece Prior, from the Northern Territory, reeled in a barramundi worth $10,000 at one of the NT’s most famous fishing hotspots, the Daly River region.

Reese caught the lucky barra while land-based fishing with his mate Zenon Theodorou, who first taught him how to fish. The two had a pact to split any Million Dollar Fish winnings, and Reece will use his half to add upgrades to his new boat.

“I’ve just bought a boat, but I am an avid land-based fisho and I caught this tagged barra fishing from land,” Reece said. “I’m a Territorian so knew all about Million Dollar Fish when it first started, plus a mate caught a tagged fish in 2018. I’m glad I registered this season!”

There are still 99 $10,000 barra swimming around out there, plus eight chances to snag the Million Dollar Fish. For every $10,000 fish caught, an extra $1000 is donated to one of the official Million Dollar Fish charities, as nominated by the winning fisho. Reece chose the Starlight Children’s Foundation’s Darwin Star Ball.

“On behalf of the Darwin Star Ball Committee and Starlight Children’s Foundation, we thank Reece for this donation,” charity representative Danielle White said. “After the challenges of the past 18 months, community support is needed now more than ever to help Starlight bring happiness to sick kids in the NT.”

SportsBet External Affairs Manager Brad Fanning said SportsBet was thrilled to hand over the cheque.

“Remember, as well as 99 $10,000 fish still out there, there are also eight chances to land the Million Dollar Fish. Across the course of the competition we have now released a Million Dollar Fish in each of the five regions – Darwin, Kakadu, Katherine, Arnhem Land and Tiwi Islands. This is the greatest fishing comp in Australia, if not the world, and we’re hoping someone will reel in the big one during Season 7.”

Season 7 of the Million Dollar Fish competition began on 1 October 2021 and runs until 31 March 2022. You must be registered for Season 7 to claim the prize money if you catch a tagged fish. Register for free at www.milliondollarfish.com.au.

 

 

 

It just got reel – Season 7 now open!

Posted on by Isabella Hood

Million Dollar Fish Season 7 is officially open, meaning there’s never been a better time to wet a line in the Northern Territory.

Australia’s richest fishing competition lures in anglers from all over Australia with the hope of hooking a prize-tagged barra across five main fishing regions; Tiwi Islands, Darwin, Katherine, Kakadu and Arnhem Land.

Million Dollar Fish Season 7, underwritten by SportsBet and supported by the Northern Territory Government through Northern Territory Major Events Company (NTMEC), runs from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022.

Season 7 has the biggest purse of prize money in the history of the competition, with eight red-tagged Million Dollar Fish (the big one from Season 7, plus the Million Dollar Fish from all previous seasons, which are still active). Over the course of the competition, a Million Dollar Fish has now been released in each of the five fishing regions. For Season 7, one hundred barra worth $10,000 have also been released across the Top End.

Each time a registered angler hooks a $10,000 fish, an additional $1,000 will be donated to a Million Dollar Fish Season 7 Official Charity Partner. One of the Official Charity Partners will also receive $10,000 once the Million Dollar Fish is caught.

NTMEC CEO Tim Watsford said Season 7 promised to be another blockbuster six months.

“Season 7 is shaping up to be a big one, following a very successful Season 6 that saw 11 prize-tagged barra caught across the Top End and $115,000 paid out to local and interstate anglers,” he said.

“Winning huge cash prizes has never been easier; simply register for free and experience our world-class fishing for the chance to bag a Season 7 red-tagged barra.”

SportsBet External Affairs Manager Brad Fanning hoped Season 7 would be a game-changer for one lucky registered fisho.

“With eight active Million Dollar Fish and ideal conditions for fishing, the chances of hooking the big one have never been higher,” he said.

“I can’t wait to see local and interstate anglers cash in over the next six months, and look forward to awarding bank cheques to our official charity partners as part of Season 7.”

By simply registering for Million Dollar Fish, participants automatically go into the Lucky Prize Pool for the chance to win a swag of great prizes every month. They include Shimano fishing combos, Britz campervan getaways, Engel fridges and freezers, a Great Northern Tiwi Island Breakaway, Anaconda vouchers, Top End fishing holidays and experiences, and much more.

An exciting bonus will also be revealed for registered fishos during Season 7, with more details to be released soon. For more information or to register for free, head to www.milliondollarfish.com.au.