Fishos can rejoice with Million Dollar Fish, Australia’s richest fishing competition, set to return for Season 10. Registration, which is free, opens today (Sunday 1 September 2024). There is still a million reasons to fish this season with everyone encouraged to register to be the first to know when exciting news is released.
Season 10 begins on 1 October 2024, meaning keen anglers have a month to register and plan their fishing trips before they can drop a line in the hope of reeling in a red-tagged barramundi. This year marks 10 years of the popular competition.
Northern Territory Major Events Company CEO Suzana Bishop said Million Dollar Fish is back, and Season 10 will have more opportunities to win money and share some big prizes.
“Huge thanks to SportsBet for supporting another massive season of fishing in the Territory. Million Dollar Fish has an important place in the Territory with research indicating that of the 61,601 registrants of S9, there was an impressive 70 percent participation rate and a $21 million increase in total expenditure between Season 8 and 9,” Mrs Bishop said.
“Southerners are encouraged to head north to experience unparalleled fishing and the chance to reel in a big one as part of Australia’s richest fishing competition. Research shows interstate visitors are opting for tours and boat rentals when visiting to participate in Million Dollar Fish, which is great for local businesses.”
The return of Million Dollar Fish comes after 19-year-old Keegan Payne, from Katherine, reeled in a 67cm million-dollar barramundi in Season 9. Keegan is the first person in the history of the competition to reel in a million-dollar tagged fish. Since Million Dollar Fish began in 2015 more than 1000 red-tagged barramundi have been released and over $2 million in winnings given away.
Season 9 Million Dollar Fish winner Keegan Payne said: “The fish are out there so take the family or a mate and you might come home a whole lot richer. See you out there.”
The Top End is the only place in the country where you can go fishing and stand a chance to catch a million-dollar fish or one of many $10,000 red-tagged barra. Tagged fish are released across the five main fishing regions – Tiwi Islands, Darwin, Katherine, Kakadu, and Arnhem Land.
SportsBet NT Operations and Partnerships Manager Thijs Bors said: “We made history in Season 9 giving Territorian Keegan Payne a million dollars when he reeled in the Million Dollar Fish.
“Make sure you register now for Million Dollar Fish Season 10 and get out there and wet a line, you could just hook yourself a million-bucks.”
Season 9 was the biggest yet, setting a record with 61,602 registrations, of which 35.8% were from interstate. Independent research found a total economic expenditure stimulus of $91.8 million of which $49.6 million was new money to the Northern Territory. Season 9 attracted 9,602 visitors from interstate and overseas contributing to 253,235 visitor nights across the NT. Additionally 96.2 percent of people who participated in Million Dollar Fish S9 purchased products and experiences ranging from tackle to tours.
Million Dollar Fish Season 10 runs from 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025 and registrations open September 1 2024. It’s free to register and anglers must be registered for Season 10 to claim prize money.