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First red-tagged barra caught just three hours into Season 9

Posted on by Erin

The barra are really biting for Million Dollar Fish, with one lucky angler hooking the first catch of the season within hours of Season 9 of the fishing competition beginning!

Zain Lopez was fishing at Stokes Hill Wharf by the Darwin CBD at 3am on 1 October 2023 when he hooked himself a red-tagged barra worth $10,000.

“I’ve fished that spot so many times and couldn’t believe it when I reeled in a barra with a red tag! My partner and I were speechless,” he said. “I caught the fish on my second cast. I go fishing most weekends when I can, and there is even more incentive and motivation to get out and wet a line now thanks to Million Dollar Fish. I’ll keep on fishing for more red-tagged barra!”

Bag $10k or a million bucks

The Million Dollar Fish fishing competition offers anglers the chance to bag $10,000 or become a millionaire by catching a red-tagged barra. With the million guaranteed to be reeled in this year, there’s never been a better reason to fish the Top End. Tagged fish have been released across the Territory’s main fishing regions – Darwin, Kakadu, Tiwi Islands, Arnhem Land and Katherine.

Each time a $10,000 barra is caught, the lucky fisho can donate an additional $1,000 to a Million Dollar Fish Season 9 Official Charity Partner. A further $10,000 will be donated to an Official Charity Partner when a Million Dollar Fish is reeled in. Official Charity Partners are Cancer Council NT, Shoreline, Starlight Children’s Foundation Darwin Star Ball and for the first time, Riding for the Disabled Association Top End. Zain chose Starlight.

Season 9 of Australia’s richest fishing competition began on 1 October 2023 and runs until 31 March 2024. Remember, you must be registered for Season 9 to claim the prize money if you catch a red-tagged barra.

This also automatically enters you into the monthly Lucky Prize Pool. Epic prizes include return airfares to Darwin with Airnorth, Britz campervan getaways, Great Northern vouchers, Engel goodies, Shimano Fishing Packs and more. Register for free here.

Australia’s richest fishing competition reels in million dollar dream

Posted on by Erin

Australia’s richest fishing competition, Million Dollar Fish, releases two barramundi worth a million dollars. This is for Season 9 of of the competition which opened on Sunday, 1 October 2023.

There’s now 11 million-dollar barra swimming in the Territory’s pristine waterways in the competition, underwritten by SportsBet.

Competition organiser Northern Territory Major Events Company (NTMEC) confirms a winner will take home a million dollars during Season 9. So now’s the time to book a trip to the Northern Territory’s Top End and wet a line.

Releasing two ‘big ones’ is the first in a raft of initiatives ensuring a lucky angler reels in a million bucks. We will reveal further initiatives as Australia’s richest fishing competition progresses.

As well as the two fish carrying million-dollar red tags, 100 barramundi sporting a $10,000 tag were released across the Top End’s pristine fishing regions of Darwin, Katherine, Kakadu, Arnhem Land and the Tiwi Islands. The Territory has some of the best fishing in the country with anglers able to fish creeks, billabongs, rivers and the blue water.

11 chances to catch a million dollars in Australia’s richest fishing competition

We have paid out $925,000 to anglers since Million Dollar Fish began in 2015. This is for fishos who hooked a $10k red-tagged barra, with the million-dollar barra not reeled in, yet.

For Season 9, 11 barramundi with a million-dollar tag are eligible to be caught, meaning there’s 11 chances to catch a million dollars. Once a million-dollar tagged fish is hooked, all other million-dollar tagged fish revert to $10K for the rest of Season 9.

NTMEC delivers Million Dollar Fish on behalf of the Northern Territory Government. NTMEC CEO Suzana Bishop expects record-breaking registrations for the biggest prize pool yet.

“We saw record registrations for Season 8, and the most fish caught – 20!,” Mrs Bishop said. “With enthusiasm for Season 9 so high, thanks to the promise the million will go off, it looks set to be even bigger.

“More than 16,000 eager anglers have already registered for free, and many are from interstate. This is great news for the Territory as they head here to enjoy the holiday of a lifetime.”

Season 8 of Million Dollar Fish reels in big bucks

Season 8 of Million Dollar Fish generated a total expenditure stimulus of $70.8 million, 33.3 per cent ($23.6 million) of which was new money to the Top End region.

It also delivers for the community, with winning fishos able to donate $1,000 to an Official Charity Partner when they snag a $10,000 barra.

A further $10,000 will be donated to an Official Charity Partner when a Million Dollar Fish is reeled in. Official Charity Partners are Cancer Council NT, Shoreline, Starlight Children’s Foundation Darwin Star Ball and Riding for the Disabled Association Top End.

SportsBet NT Operations and Partnerships Manager Thijs Bors said the competition has lured in anglers from all over the world.

“The Territory has the best fishing, the best people and the best lifestyle. It also offers you the chance to catch a million dollars. Why would you go anywhere else on holiday?” he said.

Only those registered for Season 9 can claim any cash from a red-tagged barra.

 

A Millionaire GUARANTEED for Million Dollar Fish Season 9!

Posted on by Erin

Fishing in the Northern Territory is about to get more exciting than ever. In the biggest news since Million Dollar Fish (MDF) began in 2015, someone will definitely win a million dollars during Season 9.

Northern Territory Major Events Company (NTMEC) delivers Australia’s richest fishing competition, underwritten by SportsBet. Season 9 runs from 1 October 2023 to 31 March 2024 and registrations open tomorrow.

Over the years, we’ve released hundreds of tagged barramundis into the Top End’s five main fishing regions – Darwin, Katherine, Kakadu, Arnhem Land and the Tiwi Islands. Thousands of dollars have also been paid out to fishos lucky enough to catch them. But no one has caught one of the fish sporting a tag worth $1 million yet.

That’s all set to change this season. We’ve planned a number of initiatives to ensure someone bags a big one. To maintain the integrity of the competition, we’ll release details as the season progresses, with the first initiative ready for the start of Season 9 on 1 October 2023. Anyone keen to try their luck follow the MDF social channels and register for Season 9 now, for free.

You’ll automatically enter into the Lucky Prize Pool when you register. Each month we’ll give out prizes galore, ranging from holidays to fishing gear. You won’t even need to wet a line to win something.

Million Dollar Fish delivers for the NT

Million Dollar Fish delivers for the Territory, with last season o-fish-ally the biggest. Season 8 recorded the most registrations ever (47,949). The last Season also saw the most red-tagged fish caught – 20 – and the lucky winning fishos taking home $230,000 between them (some received Double the Dough).

Every time a fisho catches a $10,000 fish, they donate an extra $1000 to the MDF charity of their choice. The official MDF charities (Cancer Council NT, Shoreline and Starlight Children’s Foundation Darwin Star Ball) received more than ever, sharing $23,000. This year a new charity will join the list of MDF charities – Riding for the Disabled Association Top End.

MDF continues to deliver for the Territory economy, too. Independent research shows Season 8 generated a total expenditure stimulus, in the Northern Territory, of $70.8 million, 33.3 per cent ($23.6 million) of which was new money to the Top End region. The research also revealed:

  • MDF delivered 153,677 visitor nights across the NT.
  • 7 per cent of participants purchased fishing equipment.
  • 3 per cent of participants said they were likely to return next year.

Fishos must be registered for Season 9 to claim any prize money from a tagged fish. To find out more and to register, visit https://milliondollarfish.com.au/

 

Is this the final winning barra of Territory fishing comp’s Season 8?

Posted on by Erin

Season 8 of Territory fishing comp, Million Dollar Fish, has been the biggest ever and, with just hours to go to the end of the season, ecstatic Borroloola resident Asman Rory landed a $10,000 barra.

Asman went night fishing on Wednesday to catch a meal for his family at his favourite secret spot near the McArthur River Crossing. He ended up hooking the 90cm winning fish, which is the 20th fish of Season 8.

With a fading torch battery, Asman didn’t realise he had bagged a $10,000 barra until hours later when he ran into some friends who started inspecting his catch. He didn’t believe it was a winning tag until he scratched back the algae and saw it was red.

With adrenaline pumping, Asman called his partner to share the good news, before racing home to celebrate in person. He hopes to use the money to buy a car for his family.

“I went to this favourite spot and I always catch barra in it, but this time it was different. I felt something different,” Asman said.

“So I called out to the land like I always do, to the ancestors. When I first got down there I started flicking around, and I caught a small one. So I asked the ancestors for one more, you know, only one more I asked for, and that was the $10,000 barra. It means the world to me and my family that this has happened.

“Our fishing is the best. You know, just protect our waterways, our environment, and pick our rubbish up. Keep our pristine environment clean and rubbish-free for future generations.”

Asman chose Shoreline, an education program that provides career pathways for young Indigenous Australians, to receive his $1000 charity donation.

Season 8 of Million Dollar Fish gives out largest amount of cash

Season 8 has seen the largest amount of money given out in the history of Million Dollar Fish. In total, 20 winning fishos have shared $230,000.

Northern Territory Major Events Company (NTMEC) delivers the Territory’s popular fishing competition, underwritten by SportsBet.

There’s also still time to become a millionaire, with all nine fish carrying tags worth a million bucks eligible to be caught year-round. To claim any cash, you MUST be registered for Million Dollar Fish Season 8. All $10,000 fish cease to be active at 11.59pm tonight. Registrations also close.

Register now for free.

 

 

 

Local lands $20k barra in Territory fishing spot

Posted on by Erin

Humpty Doo local Wayne Leather reeled in a tagged barra in a Territory fishing spot just in the nick of time.

He was fishing at a secret spot in Adelaide River on Sunday, with only four days left of Million Dollar Fish. While reeling a fish in he was surprised to see a beaming red tag hanging off his 68cm catch. But other fish were still biting, so Wayne kept reeling in two more barra while his son tried to read the writing on the red tag. When they realised Wayne had pulled in a Season 8 barra, the duo quickly packed up and raced home.

“As soon as it went straight into the net it was facing upright and we both screamed out at the same time, ‘red tag!’ I said, ‘no way, this can’t be happening’,” Wayne said.

“We quickly got it in the boat before a croc came out and took the fish.

“We’re quite lucky actually. It’s hard to believe it happened because we didn’t go there to catch a tagged barra. We hadn’t given up, but at the end of the season, you think the doors are pretty well closed.”

Fisho registers for every Million Dollar Fish Season

Wayne is the third lucky fisho to take home $20,000 after hooking his barra during the final weekend of Double the Dough, where a $10,000 fish is worth $20,000. He chose the Darwin Star Ball through the Starlight Children’s Foundation to receive the $2000 charity donation.

Wayne has signed up for Million Dollar Fish, underwritten by SportsBet, every season since the competition began in 2015. He carefully inspects every barra he catches to see if it’s sporting a red tag. He has his favourite Territory fishing spot, but keeps it a secret.

SportsBet NT Operations and Partnerships Manager Thijs Bors was over the moon at handing another lucky fisho a cheque.

“As the major sponsor of Million Dollar Fish, SportsBet is thrilled to be awarding another lucky fisho a cheque for $20,000,” he said.

“Remember, there’s still nine barra worth a million bucks swimming around in Top End waters. They are eligible to be caught all year round if you register for Season 8 by 31 March 2023.”

There’s still 81 barramundi waiting to be caught as part of the competition. This includes nine fish carrying a tag worth a million bucks, which remain active all year round. Remember, you must register before the end of Season 8 to be eligible.

Season 8 of Million Dollar Fish ends on 31 March 2023. To claim any prize money from a tagged fish you must register by this Friday. This includes catching a fish worth a million bucks after Season 8 ends. Register now for free at www.milliondollarfish.com.au.

Fisho doubles the dough with a $20k barra

Posted on by Erin

Another lucky fisho has scored himself $20,000 after hooking fish number 18 of Million Dollar Fish Season 8.

Kai Hale, 18, reeled in a barramundi worth $10,000 at the weekend. However, under the Double the Dough initiative, he has instead pocketed $20,000. Kai hooked the 105cm barra at Manton Dam, less than an hour’s drive from Darwin CBD, in the early hours of Saturday morning after a long chase and plenty of casting.

After grabbing a photo of the fish, Kai was close to returning it to the water, before something caught his eye –a tag covered in algae. Scratching back the algae he was over the moon to realise it was a Season 8 tag. Kai said he hoped to put his winnings towards purchasing a new car and entering a fishing competition.

“I just couldn’t believe it. I was happy enough it was a metery, let alone had a red tag in it,” Kai said.

“I thought maybe it was from an old season, but when we saw 2023 we were pretty happy.

“We would have had, I don’t know, 200 casts at that same fish before it ate, over about 45 minutes. We just followed it for ages.”

Season 8’s prize purse biggest ever

This season’s prize purse is the biggest yet, with nine barra worth a million bucks each now released in Top End waterways. You can still catch 82 barra worth $10,000, or $20,000 if you catch them on any weekend in March.

Every time a fisho catches a $10,000 barra, they can donate an extra $1,000 to the Million Dollar Fish charity of their choice. Kai chose Cancer Council NT. The donation was doubled to $2,000 as part of Double the Dough.

Season 8 of Million Dollar Fish, underwritten by SportsBet, runs until 31 March 2023. You must register for Season 8 to claim any prize money from a tagged fish. This includes the nine fish worth a million bucks, which remain eligible to be caught year-round. You’ll also be automatically entered into the monthly Lucky Prize Pool, which includes thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes up for grabs including holiday and flights packages and fishing and camping merchandise and equipment.

Double the Dough returns as Million Dollar Fish heads into final weeks

Posted on by Erin

Fishos have more reasons than ever to drop a line and hook themselves a coveted red-tagged Million Dollar Fish barramundi, with the famous Double the Dough initiative to return every weekend until the competition ends on March 31, 2023.

To celebrate the final countdown of Season 8 of Million Dollar Fish, the first registered person to land a $10,000 barra each weekend in March, between 12am Saturday – 11:59pm Sunday, will instead pocket a cool $20,000.

There are still 83 Season 8 barramundi swimming across the Top End waiting to be caught as part of Australia’s richest fishing competition, underwritten by SportsBet. In addition, there are nine fish carrying a tag worth a million bucks. The $1 million dollar barra are not part of the Double the Dough campaign, but they do remain eligible to be caught year-round. To claim any cash though, you MUST register for Season 8 by March 31, otherwise you can’t claim the big bucks.

To date 17 Season 8 fish have been caught, and $180,000 paid out to lucky anglers.

Season 8 ends on 31 March 2023. As well as making you eligible to claim cash if you catch a tagged barra, registering also automatically enters you into the Lucky Prize Pool, which includes thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes up for grabs including holiday and flights packages, and fishing and camping gear. Register here.

Australia’s richest fishing competition keeps reeling ’em in

Posted on by Erin

Lucky fisho Timothy O’Hagan has found himself $10,000 richer after landing a tagged fish as part of Australia’s richest fishing competition.

Season 8 of Million Dollar Fish, underwritten by SportsBet, has seen 17 fish caught and $180,000 paid out to lucky fishos. These smashed all records with more fish caught and more money won than any other season.

Timothy is the first fisho to catch a red-tagged fish this year. He bagged his 70cm catch at Fisherman’s Wharf on 7 February, not far from Sadgroves Creek where it was released. A proud father of two, the Karama resident looks forward to using the money to pay off his boat, and spoil his family.

“I’ve registered for every Million Dollar Fish season, and often go down to Fisherman’s Wharf for a quick cast when the kids are asleep,” Timothy said. “It wasn’t until I got home and checked with my wife that the tag was for Season 8 that I really got excited. I had to be careful not to wake the kids up, but inside I was like, ‘yes’!”

Every time a $10,000 fish is caught, the winning fisho gets to donate an extra $1,000 to a Million Dollar Fish charity of their choice. Timothy chose the Starlight Children’s Foundation. Three Territory charities have shared $18,000 so far.

There’s still plenty of time to go before the end of Season 8 of Australia’s richest fishing competition on 31 March 2023, and 83 $10,000 fish waiting to be caught, plus nine fish carrying a tag worth a million bucks. In addition, this month is Fisho Feb, with a range of additional incentives to register and get out on the water.

Register now and find out what’s happening with Fisho Feb by following Million Dollar Fish on Facebook or @million_dollar_fish on Instagram

Celebrate Australia’s richest fishing comp and win big

Posted on by Erin

An unknown angler has taken over the Million Dollar Fish social media channels. He is promising plenty of fishy fun throughout the month of February to celebrate Season 8 of Australia’s richest fishing competition.

The mystery angler will be spruiking a number of promotions over the next four weeks. This offers those registered for Million Dollar Fish added incentives to get out fishing the Northern Territory’s pristine waterways. To find out exactly what’s on offer, you’ll need to follow Million Dollar Fish on Facebook or @million_dollar_fish on Instagram.

Million Dollar Fish Season 8, which began on 1 October 2022, saw 100 barra carrying tags worth $10,000 released in the Top End’s five main fishing regions – Darwin, Katherine, Arnhem Land, Tiwi Islands and Kakadu. We’ve also released nine barra carrying tags worth $1 million.

Season 8 has been the richest yet, with a record-breaking $170,000 shared between 16 anglers so far. The season ends on 31 March 2023, when the remaining red-tagged $10,000 fish cease to be eligible for catching. There’s still 84 still waiting to be caught. But the nine fish carrying tags worth a million bucks can be claimed year-round.

Unique fishing competition is unique to the Territory

Northern Territory Major Events Company (NTMEC) delivers Million Dollar Fish on behalf of the Northern Territory Government. NTMEC Chief Executive Officer, Suzana Bishop, said the iconic competition is exclusive to the Territory.

“The Territory is a truly unique place and this is a unique competition,” she said. “The fishing up here is legendary, and everyone wants to catch an iconic barra. Now there are more reasons than ever to try your luck. Combine fishing with some of our Territory tourism experiences and you’ve got yourself the trip of a lifetime.”

SportsBet NT Operations and Partnerships Manager Thijs Bors said Million Dollar Fish continues to deliver.

“SportsBet is proud to support Million Dollar Fish, which offers anglers so many chances to win cash prizes, and other goodies,” he said. “Each season there is something new on offer, and we can’t wait to see what the mystery fisho has in store.”

For every $10,000 fish caught, an extra $1000 is donated to a Million Dollar Fish charity of the winning fisho’s choice. So far, Cancer Council NT has received $9,000, the Starlight Foundation has received $6,000 and Shoreline has received $2,000.

You must register for Million Dollar Fish to claim any prize money from a tagged fish. Registrations close on 31 March 2023.

Angler reaps reward from Territory fishing hotspot

Posted on by Erin

The Territory’s Daly River has turned into a Million Dollar Fish drawcard, with another Season 8 $10,000 fish caught there. Lucky fisho Nathan Corpus is the most recent angler to bag a $10,000 red-tagged barra at the Territory fishing hotspot. Two other fishos caught their red-tagged barr at Daly River earlier in the season.

Nathan’s 58cm catch at Daly River on 27 November brings the total number of tagged fish caught in the first two months of this season to 16. This is the same number of fish caught during the whole six months of last season.

More than living up to its reputation as Australia’s richest fishing competition, Million Dollar Fish, underwritten by SportsBet, has now seen fishos walk away with $170,000. One lucky fisho won double the dough, while three Territory charities have shared in $17,000.

Fisho nearly missed season’s must-have accessory – a red tag

A talented fisho out on the river with mates, Nathan saw one of them drop a metrey before a much smaller fish took his own lure. He was so busy trying to flick his catch off so he could chase something bigger that he hardly noticed it was sporting this season’s must-have accessory – a red tag.

“My mate Russell (Hanton) and I were fishing somewhere we wouldn’t normally fish – it was full of snags,” Nathan said. “I cast and hit the bank, got it off, then got a tap and started winding like mad. It wasn’t a big fish, so I was busy trying to get it off my line so I could focus on something bigger. I almost missed the red tag because it was covered in green gunk.

“Russell read the tag and said, ‘I think you’ve got a $10k fish!’. When we caught up with our mates in another boat they asked if we’d caught any dollars – which means a metrey. I said, ‘Yeah, I caught 10,000 dollars!’ I still can’t believe it.”

The winning fisho donates an extra $1,000 to a Million Dollar Fish charity of their choice, every time a $10,000 fish is caught. Nathan chose Shoreline, an organisation that provides career pathways for young indigenous people.

There’s 84 $10,000 fish still waiting to be caught, plus nine fish carrying a tag worth a million bucks. Season 8 runs until 31 March 2023. You must register for Season 8 to claim any prize money from a tagged fish. This also automatically enters you into the Lucky Prize Pool. This includes thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes up for grabs including holiday and flights packages and fishing and camping merchandise and equipment.