Tag: Bynoe Harbour

Record start to Million Dollar Fish Season 10

Posted on by Leanne Hudson

Million Dollar Fish is off to the biggest start ever with 14 $10,000 red-tagged barramundi now reeled in this October, marking the biggest month ever for the competition. This latest catch surpasses Season 8, when 13 fish were caught in October.

The 14th fish travelled an impressive 90km from Bynoe Harbour to Buffalo Creek, where it was reeled in by Territorian Alan Carter on Sunday, 28 October around 10am.

The 58cm red-tagged fish was a welcome surprise for Alan who was out for an early morning fish with some mates. The fish has affectionally been named Bert Big Bills as it’s delivered the rural resident a winning $10,000 catch.

“We left about four in the morning, went down (to Buffalo Creek) for the turn of the tide. (I’ve) fished there quite regularly, just sort of going on a Sunday, something to do, and along came Bert and sacrificed himself. I was nearly going to let the poor bugger go and then I thought, ‘no, it’s a current tag’, so I kept it and put it on ice,” Alan said.

Fishos are encouraged to head out to Top End waters and wet their lines as Australia’s richest fishing competition continues to deliver winning catches.

There are now 85 red-tagged $10,000 fish and 10 fish with a million-dollar tag for Season 10. Each season the competition sees red-tagged barramundi released in Darwin, Katherine, Arnhem Land, Kakadu and Tiwi Islands waterways.

Sportsbet NT Operations and Partnerships Manager Thijs Bors said: “Sportsbet is delighted to see yet another $10,000 barra reeled in by another devoted fisho. Million Dollar Fish continues to deliver and we look forward to seeing more lucky fishos win big, so register, get out there and cast a line.”

As the official charity partner, Cancer Council NT receives $1000 for every $10,000 tagged fish caught, bringing the total contribution to the charity to $14,000 so far. A total of $154,000 has been paid out since Season 10 began on 1 October.

And they keep on coming… another two tagged fish caught

Posted on by Erin

Australia’s richest fishing competition continues to live up to its name, with two more $10,000 tagged fish caught. The record-breaking Season 8 only began on 1 October 2022, and eight fishos are already sharing $90,000 worth of prize money.

Komang Budiana, of McMinns Lagoon in Darwin, caught the seventh fish on 19 October. He bagged his winning barra at Stokes Hill Wharf.

“I caught the fish using live bait and was about to go home when I caught it,” Komang said.

“There were a few people watching on the wharf as I reeled it in and everyone was freaking out!

Komang, who got into fishing during COVID, has become something of a barra addict. “Whether it’s really hot or raining, I’ll still go fishing,” he said. “I’m saving up to get my younger brother over to Australia from Bali to study, so I’ll use my winnings for that.”

Victorian angler catches red-tagged barra on last day in Darwin

Victorian angler Ranae Eels caught fish number eight on the same day in Bynoe Harbour while on a fishing charter with Barramundi Adventures. The Victorian resident was celebrating her last day in Darwin with a day on the water before heading home.

“I can’t believe I caught a red-tagged barra on my last day in Darwin,” said Ranae, from Ballarat. “I’ll probably put the cash towards a boat and maybe a dog. We’ve been travelling around Australia and will head back home to Ballarat for Christmas, but we’ll be back in the Territory next year to try and catch another tagged fish.”

Each time a Season 8 $10,000 barra is caught, an additional $1,000 is given to an official Million Dollar Fish charity of the fisho’s choice. Komang and Ranae both chose Cancer Council NT.

There are still 92 $10,000 barramundi swimming around Territory waterways, in addition to nine fish worth a million dollars. This includes the Season 8 Million Dollar Fish, plus the other big ones from previous seasons, which are still eligible to be caught. Prize-tagged barramundi have been released across the Tiwi Islands, Darwin, Katherine, Arnhem Land and Kakadu.