Tag: darwin

Kakadu National Park delivers third $10,000 barra for Season 9

Posted on by Erin

A lucky fisho has caught the third $10,000 red-tagged barra of Season 9 in Kakadu National Park.

Loren Hanton was night fishing at stunning Yellow Waters on 31 October. She couldn’t believe it when the 63cm beauty grabbed her lure.

“I’d had no luck on the water, even though my partner had caught four fish, so I was thinking of leaving. Then I pulled in a 70cm barra, which totally changed things!,” Loren said.

“My next catch was the red-tagged barra, and when I saw that red tag I started screaming. I couldn’t believe it. I’ve registered for Million Dollar Fish every season and am a regular fisho born and bred in the Territory.

“I can’t believe I’ve finally caught my own red-tagged barra. I will 100 per cent keep on fishing to try my luck at catching another.”

Underwritten by SportsBet, Million Dollar Fish sees prize-tagged barramundi released in waterways across the Darwin, Kakadu, Tiwi Islands, Arnhem Land and Katherine regions. This season someone is guaranteed to win a million dollars.

Loren, who was fishing with her partner at Kakadu National Park, wasn’t having much luck. She was considering calling it a night when she reeled in a 70cm barra. Filled with renewed enthusiasm, she kept on casting, then landed her $10,000 prize.

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. Loren chose Shoreline. The program began on the Tiwi Islands and provides education and employment opportunities for young Indigenous people.

Shoreline Managing Director Jason Ryan thanked Loren for her donation.

“We are absolutely delighted Loren nominated us as the recipient charity for the recent red-tagged barramundi,” he said. “The donation will go directly towards creating opportunities for young First Nations students in the NT to develop their skills on water and obtain marine certifications.

“We are excited to see more tagged barramundi caught and a lucky fisho snag the million-dollar prize!”

Loren’s catch means there are now 97 $10,000 barramundi still out there, plus 11 barra carrying tags worth a million dollars. That includes the two released for Season 9, and those released for previous seasons. A fisho must register for Season 9 to claim any prize money from a tagged fish. This also automatically enters them into the Lucky Prize Pool, which includes thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes up for grabs, such as holiday and flight packages, and fishing and camping gear. Register now for free.

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.

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.

Last cast of the day sees local fisho cash in with $10k barra

Posted on by Isabella Hood

A Top End fishing trip with a mate from down south has seen Territorian Colin Carthew win $10,000. He cashed in after reeling in a red-tagged barra on the last cast of the day.

The two fishos wet a line near Talc Head at Woods Inlet on Friday, 25 November. Colin snagged the lucrative 62cm catch as part of Million Dollar Fish Season 8. This was before swiftly making their way back to the Darwin Ski Club boat ramp to beat the tide.

The Darwin-based angler said it was s challenging fishing trip, but well and truly paid off in the end. “The tides weren’t very good but we decided to head out and try our luck. I couldn’t believe it when we got the fish on the last cast – we weren’t sure if it was worth $10,000 or a million,” he said.

“When we got back to the boat ramp at the museum there was no tide, so we had to unhitch the trailer and bounce the tinny over the rocks back onto the trailer, damaging the jockey wheel in the process. It took over an hour, but it was worth it for a red-tagged barra.”

A keen fisho, Colin said he’ll put the money towards purchasing new video camera equipment.

Season 8 prize money biggest in competition’s history

Widely known as Australia’s richest fishing competition, Million Dollar Fish has already seen 15 anglers reel in prize-tagged barramundi as part of Season 8. Competition underwriter SportsBet has paid out a total of $160,000.

The amount of prize money up for grabs as part of Season 8 is the biggest in the history of the competition, with a whopping nine barramundi worth a million dollars now released in five fishing regions – Tiwi Islands, Darwin, Katherine, Kakadu and Arnhem Land. This includes the Season 8 Million Dollar Fish, in addition to those from every other season, which are still eligible to be caught.

Eighty-five Season 8 $10,000 barra are still swimming around Top End waterways. Each time a $10,000 fish is caught, an extra $1,000 is donated to one of the official Million Dollar Fish charities, as nominated by the lucky angler. Colin gave his $1,000 to Cancer Council NT.

Northern Territory Major Events Company (NTMEC) Head of Events and Operations Coryn Huddy said now is an ideal time to visit the Territory. It’s also an opportunity to explore the Top End’s world-class fishing regions for the opportunity to bag a red-tagged barramundi.

“The concept is simple,” he said. “Jump online, register for free and then wet a line for the chance to become a millionaire. Plus, you’ll also go into the monthly Lucky Prize Pool to win epic prizes and experiences from Million Dollar Fish partners,” he said.

Million Dollar Fish Season 8 opened on 1 October 2022 and runs through until 31 March 2023. To be eligible for any prize money, anglers must have registered for Season 8.

For more info and to register, visit www.milliondollarfish.com.au.

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.

Daly River delivers another $10,000 barra

Posted on by Erin

Lucky angler Darryl McLeod is celebrating after bagging a tagged barramundi worth $10,000 in the Million Dollar Fish competition. Darryl is the fifth fisho to win cash thanks to Australia’s richest fishing competition, underwritten by SportsBet. Darryl reeled in the prize-winning 89cm catch on Friday night while land-based fishing at Daly River Crossing, an iconic Top End fishing spot. He was fishing with partner Kaitlyn Ah Fat, who bagged herself a $10,000 fish in Season 6.

“I’ve registered for Million Dollar Fish every season, and when I pulled in a fish with a red tag I couldn’t believe it. I was pretty happy! I fish at this spot all the time and have been fishing since I was little, so it was good to finally land a tagged barra,” Darryl said.

There are still 95 fish worth $10,000 swimming around Top End waterways, plus eight chances to score the big one – a million bucks. That includes the Season 7 Million Dollar Fish, plus those released in previous seasons, which are still active. As soon as one of the fish carrying a million dollar tag is caught, the remaining seven turn into $10,000 fish.

Million Dollar Fish is delivered by the Northern Territory Government through Northern Territory Major Events Company (NTMEC). NTMEC CEO Tim Watsford said the competition continues to deliver for fishos each year.

“We are less than two months into Season 7 of Million Dollar Fish and five lucky fishos have already landed themselves a $10,000 bonus. We’ve seen locals and tourists win, from boats, land-based fishing and a fishing charter. Any fisho really can win,” he said.

SportsBet External Affairs Manager Brad Fanning said you don’t even need to go fishing to win with Million Dollar Fish.

“As the major sponsor of the Million Dollar Fish competition, SportsBet is always thrilled when someone catches a tagged fish. And don’t forget – simply by registering you go into our Lucky Prize Pool, so you could win awesome prizes without even wetting a line,” he said.

For every $10,000 fish caught, the winning fisho can donate $1000 to the official Million Dollar Fish charity of their choice. Darryl chose Starlight Children’s Foundation, which supports the Darwin Star Ball. Darwin Star Ball Committee Chairman Justin Coleman welcomed the funds.

“We’re so excited to be a part of the Million Dollar Fish campaign again in 2021. Starlight has been there for sick kids throughout the challenges of the past 18 months. Only with the help of the local community can we continue to be there for sick kids in the NT when they need it most.”

 

 

Lucky fishos enjoy bonus chance to snag a tagged barra

Posted on by Leanne Hudson

Sixty lucky fishos tried their best to catch a bonus $5,000 Charity Fish yesterday at a special event at Barramundi Adventures. The fishos won a spot at the invite-only gathering through a competition run with Mix 104.9 FM – Wet a Line with Matt Wright.

The event, in Darwin’s rural area, was to celebrate the partnership between Million Dollar Fish and Great Northern Brewing Co. Great Northern ambassador, mad keen fisho and Outback Wrangler Matt Wright released the bonus Charity Fish and the fishos had a good crack at catching it – but no one managed to snag it.

What they did snag was a swag of other prizes, including a Great Northern Breakaway fishing trip to the Tiwi Islands, Great Northern Fishing Packs and official Million Dollar Fish merchandise.

“It was a great day with plenty of action in the water,” NT Major Events CEO Tim Watsford said. “Barra were everywhere, but sadly the elusive $5,000 tagged barra refused to take the bait. A good time was had by all though, especially the winner of the Great Northern Breakaway fishing trip, which was worth more than $10,000. What better way to celebrate our partnership with Great Northern.”

“Million Dollar Fish is a great opportunity to get fishos up North, and what better brand to partner with than Great Northern, the taste of the North,” Matt Wright added.

If the bonus Charity Fish is caught by anyone registered for Million Dollar Fish, aged 18 or over, between now and 31 March 2021 (the end of Million Dollar Fish Season 6), the full $5,000 will go to the Million Dollar Fish-affiliated charity of the fisho’s choice. But the fisho is not forgotten – they’ll receive a remote fishing charter, courtesy of Barra Adventures, and a Million Dollar Fish merchandise pack.

There are still more than 100 tagged fish swimming around in Territory waterways, including seven with a $1 million prize tag.

MDF at National Barramundi Day!

Posted on by Leanne Hudson

We all love barra and what better way to celebrate this Top End icon (apart from snagging a Million Dollar Fish tagged barra) than by heading down to the Darwin Waterfront’s National Barramundi Day gig this evening?

From 5-8pm you can sign up for Million Dollar Fish (if you haven’t got your act together yet) and go in the draw to win one of 10 $100 Darwin Waterfront gift cards.

If you’re looking for a feed, check out the Million Dollar Dishes being served at a range of Darwin Waterfront bars and restaurants to celebrate our famous barra and the Million Dollar Fish competition. We’ve worked with venues to bring you some top tucker. Can’t make it this evening? Don’t worry, the dishes will be available until 31 March 2021.

Today from 5pm there will also be casting practices, demonstrations, face painting, live music, entertainment for the littlies and more. Top of the list is surely a selfie with Baz the Barra.