Month: December 2021

Territorian reels in first red tag from Stokes Hill Wharf

Posted on by Isabella Hood

Territorian Anthony Patsalou is celebrating a little harder than usual this festive season, after reeling in a $10,000 barra from Stokes Hill Wharf as part of Million Dollar Fish Season 7. Underwritten by SportsBet, Million Dollar Fish is Australia’s richest fishing competition.

The lucky fisho decided to wet a line off the wharf after dinner when he caught the lucrative 67cm barra on 21 December.

“I was absolutely stoked when I reeled in the red tag, I actually started crying – I couldn’t believe it,” he said.

Now $10,000 better off, the Karama resident said he looks forward to spoiling his family for Christmas, paying off a few bills and enjoying a holiday with his winnings.

This red-tagged barra is not the first Anthony has caught, after bagging a $10,000 fish at Adelaide River in November of 2018 during Season 4. The latest prize-tagged fish is also the first ever caught off Stokes Hill Wharf in the history of Million Dollar Fish.

Northern Territory Major Events Company CEO Tim Watsford congratulated the latest winner Anthony Patsalou on his lucrative catch.

“It’s great to see another prize-tagged barramundi reeled in as part of Million Dollar Fish Season 7,” he said.

“With more than three months left in Season 7, now is the time to wet a line and explore our world-class fishing destinations across the Top End.”

For every $10,000 fish caught, the winning fisho can donate $1,000 to the official Million Dollar Fish charity of their choice. Anthony chose Shoreline, a NT organisation that cultivates educational programs and employment pathways to create sustainable careers for young Indigenous Australians.

Shoreline Managing Director Jason Ryan thanked Anthony for choosing Shoreline.

“The donation will contribute to formal maritime training for Top End Indigenous students creating greater work opportunities and adding value to a dynamic NT tourism industry,” he said.

With more than three months left in Season 7, there is still plenty of time to hit the water for the chance to catch a prize-tagged fish.

There are over one hundred $10,000 fish swimming around Top End waterways, and eight barra worth $1 million up for grabs.

SportsBet External Affairs Manager Brad Fanning said there was never a better time to go fishing in the NT.

“We can’t wait to award more lucky fishos with cash prizes, so get out in the boat or head out land-based fishing for the chance to catch the Million Dollar Fish,” he said.

To be in with a chance to win, simply head to www.milliondollarfish.com.au and register for free.

Top 5 Spots to Fish this Holiday Season

Posted on by Erin

Put down the iPads and iPhones you got for Chrissy and reconnect with family or ya mates with a reel and rod. Check out these top five fishing spots and you could add your name to the list of Territory barra fishing legends… or at least be pretty popular at dinner time.

  1. For a wicked few days on the water you can’t beat Daly River. Located around 250km south of Darwin, make the most of your stay with camping and hotel accommodation at Daly River Resort. Fishing charters and guides to help you lure a barra are also available
  2. Shoal Bay is close to town and a ripper place to bag a metery. Make sure you don’t get smashed by the low tide, though. Anyone caught out in the bay will be “locked in” by a network of sandbars and, short of an aerial rescue, there’s no way out until the tide returns.
  3. An hour-long drive from Darwin, the clear, build-up season waters of  Leaders Creek teem with tropical sportsfish, all sorts of bait and, of course, barra. The creek leads into the nearby Adelaide River, which is a fishing mission all its own.
  1. While this popular recreational location doesn’t sound like your typical fishing haven, Manton Dam is actually great for finding barra. Camping isn’t allowed at the Dam, but its close proximity to Darwin makes it a sweet little day trip. 
  1. Darwin Harbour is known for quality fishing even when the tides don’t suit. You don’t have to travel too far either, and can be back at home or your hotel enjoying a beer and cooking your catch while it’s still fresh.

Good luck out there! And make sure you’re registered before you hit the water.

Red-tag barra bonanza in lead up to very merry Fishmas!

Posted on by Isabella Hood

It’s raining fish in the Top End, with yet another prize-tagged barramundi reeled in as part of Million Dollar Fish Season 7.

The latest fisho to win big is Territorian Steven Coulton, who reeled in the lucrative catch at Wagait Beach on 6 December.

Caught off the bank of his front yard, the Wagait Beach resident was pleased to find himself $10,000 richer. He plans to split the cash with his mate Andrew Bates who was with him when he hooked the lucky catch.

It wasn’t until the pair were filleting their 75cm barra that they realised the fish had a red tag in it. Now with an extra $5,000 in each of their pockets, the lucky duo say they’ll spend their winnings on new fishing tackle and paying off some bills.

“We sort of looked for a tag initially but we were looking in the wrong spot. It wasn’t until we were filleting the fish and started cutting down the backbone when we realised it had a red tag in it,” Steven said.

“It was pretty crazy, we had a couple of cordials on the beach to celebrate. Very exciting!”

As part of Season 7, every $10,000 fish caught is worth $1,000 extra to one of the Million Dollar Fish official charity partners. Steven chose Cancer Council NT. Once the Million Dollar Fish is caught, an additional $10,000 will be given to a Million Dollar Fish official charity partner.

Cancer Council NT Chief Executive Officer Tanya Izod said it was “fantastic” to see Territorians supporting such a great cause.

“This donation will go directly to funding our nurse-led cancer clinics to provide nursing support to cancer patients. It’s wonderful to have such support for Territory cancer patients,” she said.

The chances of becoming a millionaire, or even $10,000 better off, have never been higher. Still swimming around in Territory waterways for Season 7 are 104 prize-tagged barra worth $10,000 and eight fish worth a cool $1 million.

NT Major Events Company CEO Tim Watsford said it was great to see so many anglers cashing in through Season 7.

“We are already up to our eighth red tag and, with the current Wet Season conditions conducive to barra fishing, we’re likely to see plenty more fishos hook onto prize-tagged barra before the end of March,” he said.

SportsBet External Affairs Manager Brad Fanning said fishos are well and truly “beating the bookie” this season.

“SportsBet is proud to support Australia’s richest fishing competition knowing the huge benefits Million Dollar Fish brings to the region. Just last month an additional 12 barra worth $10,000 were released into the Darwin region by the big man in red,” he said.

“There are still 11 of the beauties swimming around Top End waterways, so get out there for the chance to reel some Christmas cash!”

Million Dollar Fish Season 7 finishes on 31 March next year, meaning there’s plenty of time to push the boat out or explore the Territory’s land-based fishing locations.

Remember, all fishos must be registered to claim a prize-tagged fish.

Registering is free at www.milliondollarfish.com.au and you also go into the monthly draw to win great prizes.

Two more $10,000 fish caught

Posted on by Erin

It’s been a successful few days on Territory waterways, with two red-tagged Million Dollar Fish Season 7 barramundi reeled in over the weekend.

The two tagged fish caught on the weekend are the sixth and seventh fish of Season 7, with lucky anglers already bagging five barra worth $50,000 in total since the season opened on 1 October 2021.

Keen fisho Tracy Coughlan caught the sixth fish, a 64cm barramundi, at iconic fishing spot Daly River on 4 December. Tracy is the first female angler to bag a Season 7 fish.

“Only five minutes before I got the red tag I’d reeled in part of a barra after a shark got it, so we were lucky to bag the $10,000 fish,” Tracy said. “It took me a while to register it had a red tag in!”

The very next day Manolis Zaroufis reeled in a red-tagged 72cm barramundi off the Cullen Bay pontoon, just minutes from the Darwin CBD. This particular fish was one of the 12 released last month by Santa Claus as part of the Merry Fishmas campaign.

“Words can’t express how excited I was to reel in the red-tagged barra,” Manolis said. “I was out fishing with two of my mates – when I reeled it in we jokingly said to each other to check for a tag and sure enough, there was one! This is the first time I’ve registered for Million Dollar Fish, as I’ve only just turned 18, but I’ve been fishing for years and go out almost every day.”

Million Dollar Fish is delivered by the Northern Territory Government through Northern Territory Major Events Company (NTMEC). NTMEC CEO Tim Watsford said the competition is one of a kind.

“Just like the Territory and all the amazing experiences you can have here, Million Dollar Fish is unique,” Mr Watsford said. “There’s no better reason to visit the NT, and enjoy an unforgettable adventure, complete with the possibility of bagging $10,000 or even a million bucks.”

This season, every $10,000 fish caught sees an additional $1,000 donated to a Million Dollar Fish Official Charity Partner. Both fishos chose the Starlight Children’s Foundation Darwin Star Ball.
With 105 prize-tagged barra worth $10,000 and eight fish worth a million bucks still swimming around Territory waterways, there has never been a better time to explore the Top End’s fishing regions.

To claim a prize-tagged fish or be in the running to win fantastic prizes as part of the monthly Lucky Prize Pool without even wetting a line, you must be registered. Season 7 ends on 31 March 2022.