Tag: Million Dollar Fish

Another $10k barra hooked for Million Dollar Fish S10

Posted on by Leanne Hudson

Million Dollar Fish has gone off with another winning barramundi caught. There is yet to be a week without a fish caught. Charter operator Lincoln Kirby reeled in the eleventh $10,000 red-tagged barramundi for Season 10 on Wednesday 16 October.

Lincoln took his daughter on a much-promised barra fishing session to chase red-tags at Freshwater Finnis River, and they found what they were looking for. He was trawling for red-tagged barramundi across the freshwater section of the river, when he reeled in the 69cm Season 10 fish at 8.30pm.

“I couldn’t believe it. We were turning the boat around, and as I was winding the lure back to the boat, the barra grabbed my lure next to the boat,” he said.

They had finally caught a red-tagged barramundi after 10 years of registering and fishing in the competition.

“My guide who was with us at the time netted it, and we didn’t see the red tag until the barra was on the floor of the boat – that’s when it all went off and we started yelling and screaming.”
With his latest catch, Lincoln, an experienced fishing guide and charter company owner, can now tell his interstate clients they can also cash in by registering and wetting a line.
SportsBet NT Operations and Partnerships Manager Thijs Bors said Season 10 has gone off and encourages fishos to get out there.
“This Season has been spectacular for the fishos – eleven $10k fish before the end of week three.”

“It’s prime time for barra fishing at the moment, so I’d encourage as many people as possible to register for Australia’s richest fishing competition and explore our world-class fishing regions for the chance to score a million bucks!”

Lincoln is the 11th lucky fisho to win this season in just over two weeks of the competition. There are now 88 barramundi with $10,000 tags and 10 fish with tags worth one million dollars waiting to be caught.

Each season the competition sees red-tagged fish released in Darwin, Katherine, Arnhem Land, Kakadu and Tiwi Islands waterways.

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 $11,000 so far.

A combined total of $121,000 has been paid out to winning fishos and Cancer Council NT since the launch of Season 10, marking a promising start to the season.

Million Dollar Fish Season 10 runs until 31 March 2025. Delivered by Northern Territory Major Events Company and supported by Sportsbet the competition is open to people aged over 18, with free registration. Simply by registering you are entered into the monthly prize draws valued at $79,000.

Tenth lucky Million Dollar Fish angler snags $10k barra

Posted on by Leanne Hudson

Darwin resident Mark Parkinson has snagged the tenth $10,000 red-tagged barramundi for Season 10. The lucky angler reeled in a fish released by Minister for Major Events Marie-Clare Boothby on September 30.

Fishing at Dinah Beach Boat Ramp in the hope to catch a fish to cook up, Mark got more than he bargained for when he reeled in the 70cm barra around 8.30pm on Tuesday 8 October. The barra was released by Minster Boothby at the same location a week earlier for the launch of Season 10.

“Unlucky fish and lucky me. I just went to Dinah Beach after work,” he said.

“I heard a bit of bait movement and what sounded like boof so I went around there, and fourth cast (I hooked it).”

Mark’s catch is the 10th fish to be caught in just over a week. It follows what has been a huge Season 10 opening week for $10,000 winning catches. There are now 89 barramundi with $10,000 tags and 10 fish with a tag worth one million dollars.

Each season the competition sees about a hundred red-tagged fish released in Darwin, Katherine, Arnhem Land, Kakadu and Tiwi Islands waterways.

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 $10,000 so far.

Sportsbet NT Operations and Partnerships Manager Thijs Bors said: “Sportsbet is thrilled to see another $10,000 red-tagged fish caught”.

“It’s been an incredibly exciting time to be a part of the competition. With just a week of the competition down Sportsbet can’t wait to see more lucky fishos win big in Australia’s richest fishing competition.”

Million Dollar Fish Season 10 runs until 31 March 2025. Delivered by Northern Territory Major Events Company and supported by Sportsbet the competition is open to people aged over 18, with free registration. Simply by registering you are entered into the monthly prize draws valued at $79,000. Register for free at www.milliondollarfish.com.au.

Million Dollar Fish Season 10 kicks off with record-breaking catches

Posted on by Leanne Hudson

Million Dollar Fish Season 10 is off to a thrilling start, with anglers catching nine red-tagged barramundi in the first week — surpassing the previous record of five from Season 6 and matching the total number of fish caught in the whole of Season 9. Season 10 is shaping up to be one for the history books!

The whopping nine $10,000 tagged barra have been caught throughout the Top End, from Daly River and East Alligator River to Corroboree Billabong and McArthur River Crossing, Borroloola. The excited fishers are all locals from the Territory, including former winner Yo Thu Yar. He caught a massive 90cm barramundi on 3 October, at the same Daly River Crossing spot where he landed his $10,000 barra during Season 8.

Daly River Crossing has proven to be a goldmine for Season 10 winning catches with Antonios Mougros, De Lusy and Theofilis Vrondos each reeling in their prize-winning catch from the river system.

The shocked lucky winners are excited to put their prizemoney to good use. Some will donate part of their winnings while others plan to pay off debts and upgrade their cars, and fishing gear. So

far in Season 10, fishers have won $90,000 and $9,000 has been donated to our official charity partner, Cancer Council NT.

MDF S10 winner Antonios Mougros

Antonios Mougros, who reeled in his 84cm catch on 2 October at Daly River Crossing, plans to split half his winnings with his best mate who was fishing beside him when he caught the barra.

Noah Faull, hooked his 70cm barra after several hours fishing on the East Alligator River with a work mate. After flicking fizzers the barra took the bite and put on a show, jumping into the air, before Noah bagged the catch. Noah was over the moon after learning he’d won $10,000 and hopes to do up his car and go on his first overseas holiday.

“It (the barra) was having a few jumps out of the water, it

was sick as, it put up a good little fight,” Noah said.

“I’m going to pay off my (car) loan, put it into my Hilux and get a little hunting rig up and going. I’ll be sorted, no more debt. I’ve got Bali coming up too, it’s my first time going overseas, I’m keen as.”

MDF S10 Noah Faull
MDF S10 Noah Faull

“Just get out there have a crack, you can’t catch fish if you haven’t a got a line in the water. You gotta be in it to win it.”

Lydia Hebb hooked her red-tagged fish at Corroboree Billabong at 11.30pm, Saturday 5 October. Hitting the water as preparation for a fishing competition she got more than she bargained for after the 66cm fish took the lure. She hopes to spend a bit of the winnings on fishing and boating gear, support herself as she does a university placement and put some into savings.

“It was pretty good fishing. There were a few fish that we saw coming through on the sounder, and Lachie (her partner) had caught a few fish,” Lydia said.

MDF Season 10 $10,00 winner De Lusy
MDF Season 10 $10,00 winner De Lusy

“I saw one come through, just flicked at it, and somehow landed straight in front of its nose, and it just boofed it straight away. It was a good fight, and it jumped right at the boat and we saw the tag in the light, ‘I was like, Lachie quickly net this fish’.”

Jaida Anderson, reeled in her 72cm fish at McArthur River Crossing, Borroloola on 3 October. Due to her remote location, her tag was flown to Darwin on an Airnorth plane to be verified.

“We were late night fishing and we just reeled in a barra and we didn’t know it had a tag, then was saw it, and then got all excited,” Jaida said.

“That was just a lucky night for us.”

There are still 90 barramundi with $10,000 tags. There are also 10 fish carrying a tag worth a million bucks – made up of nine fish from Season 9 and one from Season 10.

Sportsbet NT Operations and Partnerships Manager Thijs Bors said:“Sportsbet is thrilled to see the first week catch record broken with so many winners bagging a $10,000 tagged barra.”

“It’s crazy to see how strong the competition has started with $90,000 paid to winners and $9000 donated to official charity partner Cancer Council NT in just seven days.”

Cancer Council NT CEO Tanya Izod said we are very excited to see so many fish caught so early in the season.

“Congratulations to the lucky anglers who reeled in the tagged barramundi within the first week!”

“Cancer Council NT benefits from every fish caught throughout Season 10 and means we can continue our lifesaving work in the Territory and educating Territorians on the importance of being SunSmart.”

Season 10 of the Million Dollar Fish competition runs from 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025. To claim any prize money from a tagged fish, you must be registered for Season 10 of Million Dollar Fish. This also automatically enters you into the monthly giveaway draw. Register now for free.

Million Dollar Fish Returns With 10 For Season 10

Posted on by Leanne Hudson

Australia’s richest fishing competition, the Northern Territory’s Million Dollar Fish (MDF) returns for Season 10 with 10, one million-dollar tagged barramundi. The new season kicks off on 1 October 2024, with registrations now open.

The Northern Territory 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 the 99 $10,000 red-tagged barra released across the five main fishing regions – Tiwi Islands, Darwin, Katherine, Kakadu, and Arnhem Land.

A whopping 10 fish sporting million-dollar tags have been activated, meaning there’s 10 chances to reel in a million. This includes one newly tagged fish for Season 10, while nine fish from Season 9 will be reactivated with one million-dollar tags. In exciting news for anglers the million-dollar tagged barras will remain active in the off season, so you can fish all year round for the ‘big one’.

Million Dollar Fish is delivered by Northern Territory Major Events Company (NTMEC). NTMEC Acting CEO Trevor Cox said Season 10 returns with alluring chances to reel in some cash.

“Million Dollar Fish celebrates a decade of extraordinary fishing in the stunning waterways of the Top End, of the Northern Territory. Anglers from across Australia travel each year to the region to cast their luck in reeling in a red-tagged barramundi.”

“Season 9 saw the first million-dollar barra caught, will someone be lucky enough to win it in Season 10?”

Once one of the million-dollar tagged fish is caught, the remaining nine revert to $10,000 fish for the rest of the season. Season 10 ends 31 March 2025. When a $10,000 red-tagged barra is caught $1000 is donated to Official Charity Partner, Cancer Council NT. If the million-dollar fish is reeled in the charity will receive $10,000.

Million Dollar Fish, supported by Sportsbet, saw Territorian Keegan Payne reel in the 67cm million-dollar barramundi from the Katherine River in Season 9. Since Million Dollar Fish began in 2015, hundreds of tagged barramundi have been released into the Top End’s exceptional waterways, resulting in over $2 million in winnings to date.

Season 9 was the biggest in many ways, recording the highest number of registrations ever, with a total of 61,601. Season 9 drew 9,602 visitors from interstate and overseas.

Sportsbet NT Operations and Partnerships Manager Thijs Bors said the return of Season 10 was an exciting opportunity for fishos, with Sportsbet ready to see anglers reel in some red-tagged barra.

“We’re proud to support this unique competition as it reaches a decade of life-changing catches,” he said.

Cancer Council NT CEO Tanya Izod welcomed the charity partnership for Million Dollar Fish Season 10.

“Cancer Council NT is deeply honoured to be named the Million Dollar Fish charity for Season 10,” she said.

“Good luck to you all and remember … Territory anglers Slip, Slop and Slap before you go in the sun.”

Season 10 of the Million Dollar Fish competition runs from 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025 and registrations opened September 1. Registration is free for anglers aged 18 and over. Participants must be registered for Season 10 to claim prize money. Registering also puts you in the draw to win monthly giveaways, with almost $80,000 in prizes to be won, including a boat, fishing packs and flight vouchers.

NT’s millionaire-making fishing comp extended to April 30!

Posted on by Leanne Hudson

Anglers now have an extra month to catch a million-dollar barra in Australia’s richest fishing competition, Million Dollar Fish, with organisers announcing that Season 9 will be extended to 30 April.

Season 9 of Million Dollar Fish, which is delivered by Northern Territory Major Events Company (NTMEC) and supported by SportsBet, was due to end on 31 March 2024, but with no winner yet, the season has been extended to give everyone more time to catch a red-tagged million-dollar fish.

There are also more than 80 x million-dollar tagged barra.

SportsBet NT Operations and Partnerships Manager Thijs Bors said the odds were even better with a map available of where fish have been released across the Top End’s five main fishing regions – Darwin, Kakadu, Katherine, Tiwi Islands and Arnhem Land.

“Million Dollar Fish is shaking up the competition and extending it for 30 days. We can’t wait to make one lucky angler a millionaire and hope the fish is caught soon. Get out there and wet a line, everyone is in with a shot of catching the big one,” he said.

This season has seen the highest-ever number of registrations for the annual event.

Million Dollar Fish seasons typically run from 1 October to 31 March. Season 9 will run to 30 April 2024. Once the million-dollar fish is caught, the remainder of the red-tagged barra revert to $10,000 fish until the end of April. To claim any prize money from a tagged fish, you must be registered for Season 9.

Australia’s richest fishing competition raises the stakes, again!

Posted on by Leanne Hudson

With just four weeks left of Million Dollar Fish Season 9, Australia’s richest fishing competition is turning up the heat by converting a whopping 18 $10,000 barra into million-dollar fish. It means there is now 42 Million Dollar Fish sporting a million-dollar tag!

Season 9 began with the news a million dollars will definitely be given away this season, and several initiatives have been introduced to help make this happen. More initiatives on top of the exciting change will be introduced throughout March to increase the chances of an angler reeling in the elusive million-dollar fish.

More than a million dollars have already been given away to lucky fishos since Million Dollar Fish, supported by SportsBet, began in 2015. This includes eight anglers who have reeled in a $10,000 fish during Season 9 – one was worth $20,000.

Fishos eager to land the catch of a lifetime should register and follow Million Dollar Fish on Facebook and Instagram to find out the next initiative of how the odds of reeling in a ‘big one’ will increase over the coming weeks. We guarantee it’s good.

Northern Territory Major Events Company delivers Million Dollar Fish. CEO Suzana Bishop says it is exciting to see the competition heat up with March Madness.

“With just a few short weeks of Season 9 left, we’re unleashing initiatives like this to ensure someone reels in the unforgettable million-dollar catch,” Mrs Bishop says.

“The Northern Territory has some of the best and most scenic fishing in the country and there’s no better excuse to head north to barradise and wet a line than Million Dollar Fish.”

There are 103 red-tagged barramundi still waiting to be caught as part of Season 9. From tomorrow, that includes the 42 barra carrying a tag worth a million bucks. There are now multiple million-dollar tagged fish in each of the five fishing regions – Arnhem Land, Darwin, Kakadu, Katherine and the Tiwi Islands.

SportsBet NT Operations and Partnerships Manager Thijs Bors says the major sponsor is excited to see the competition develop and fishos get involved.

“SportsBet is thrilled to be part of creating a life-changing moment for one angler,” Mr Bors says. “With the million-dollar fish a sure catch, March Madness will increase the chances like never before, which will excite anglers across the country. Make sure you get up to the Top End to be a part of the action.”

Season 9 of Million Dollar Fish runs from 1 October 2023 to 31 March 2024. Once a million-dollar tagged fish is hooked, all other million-dollar tagged fish revert to $10,000 fish for the rest of Season 9.

To claim any prize money from a red-tagged fish, an angler must be registered for Season 9 of Million Dollar Fish. This also automatically enters them into the Lucky Prize Pool, with thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes up for grabs.

Borroloola fisho lands $10K Barra

Posted on by Leanne Hudson

The first red-tagged barra has been reeled in for 2024 by Borroloola resident James Mawson.

This is the eighth $10,000 barra caught in Season 9 of Million Dollar Fish, with $90,000 now awarded to lucky anglers across this season of Australia’s richest fishing competition

James was fishing 2kms upstream of the Borroloola Crossing on Monday, 22 January, when he managed to lure in one expensive fish. 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. James chose Starlight Children’s Foundation Darwin Star Ball.

James Mawson said he was shocked when he reeled in the prize-winning fish.

“It was just another fishing day for us. Just get out there and have a go, you never know, it was just a normal day out fishing. I wasn’t expecting to go home with a red tag.”

It comes as Million Dollar Fish, underwritten by SportsBet, has announced there are now a whopping 24 barra with tags worth a million bucks, the most in the history of the competition.

There are still 103 barramundi waiting to be caught as part of Million Dollar Fish Season 9. That includes the 24 fish carrying a tag worth a million bucks. The change means there is about a one-in-four chance of your fish being worth a million if you reel in a Season 9 red-tagged barra.

SportsBet NT Operations and Partnerships Manager Thijs Bors says 2024 is off to a cracking start with James catching a 65cm beauty out at Borroloola.

“It goes to show the tagged barra are everywhere and you’ve got a shot at catching one all over the Top End,” he said.

“SportsBet is excited to see who else reels in a $10,000 barra or the life-changing barra worth a million bucks!”

Delivered by Northern Territory Major Events Company on behalf of the Territory Government, the Million Dollar Fish Season 8 competition injected a total expenditure stimulus of $70.8 million into the Territory.

NT fishing competition now offers 24 x barra worth a million bucks for 2024!

Posted on by Leanne Hudson

There are now more chances than ever, 24 in fact, to reel in a life-changing barramundi in the Northern Territory thanks to Australia’s richest fishing competition, Million Dollar Fish.

Joining the 12 x $1m barra already released, an extra 12 fish have now been tagged as $1m fish. This means there are 24 ‘big ones’ out there – the most in the history of the competition.

There are also 80 x $10,000 barra to be caught.

Million Dollar Fish, supported by SportsBet, is run by Northern Territory Major Events Company. CEO Suzana Bishop says someone is guaranteed to reel in a million dollars during Season 9, and the odds have never been better.

“We’ve kicked off 2024 with the most million-dollar fish ever and we are definitely giving away a million dollars this season, so there has never been a better time to visit the Northern Territory,” she says.

“This is a unique competition in a unique destination. Nowhere else in the world could fishing change your life like this. Head to the Top End and enjoy world-class fishing in our pristine waterways, plus the chance to become a millionaire!”

There are now 24 fish sporting $1m tags as part of Million Dollar Fish Season 9
There are now 24 fish sporting $1m tags as part of Million Dollar Fish Season 9

SportsBet NT Operations and Partnerships Manager Thijs Bors says there is just a few months of Million Dollar Fish Season 9 left.

“As the major sponsor of Million Dollar Fish, SportsBet is thrilled to be playing a part in making one lucky fisho a millionaire and helping dozens of others become $10,000 richer,” he says.

“With less than 10 weeks of Season 9 left, now is the time to register and get out on the water before it’s too late!”

Once a $1m fish is caught, all remaining fish, including those tagged at $1m, will become $10,000 fish.

Season 9 runs from 1 October 2023 to 31 March 2024. To claim any prize money from a tagged fish, you must be registered for Season 9 of Million Dollar Fish. This also automatically enters you into the Lucky Prize Pool, which includes thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes up for grabs. Register now for free at www.milliondollarfish.com.au.

Third time lucky and another $10,000 for Territory fisho

Posted on by Leanne Hudson

Dedicated fisho Jack Daly, from Nauiyu/Daly River, has pocketed himself $10,000 just in time for Christmas after hooking a Million Dollar Fish Season 9 red-tagged barramundi. Persistence has paid off again for Jack, with this the third $10,000 barra he has caught since the competition began.

Jack, 35, reeled in his latest prize-winning catch, a 58cm barra, at Daly River Crossing on Friday. Jack had been down at the crossing on Friday from 7.30pm when several hours later he reeled in the red-tagged fish on a plastic lure. He said his secret to catching barra was consistency, often fishing most nights.  Over the moon with his latest catch, he said his two kids had drafted up a Christmas wish list after learning he had hooked a red-tagged barra.

“I thought I’d never catch any this year but the water came up a little bit and then started dropping again and then I caught this on the crossing,” Jack said.

“I go fishing nearly every night, or when I get the chance to if I’m not working at night, I’ll go fishing. That’s just something I love doing every day or every night anyway when it’s nice and cool.

“The key is consistency. If you keep fishing every night, anything could happen, you know? That’s all it takes just a bit of time fishing at night or day, and you’ll never know you’ll get a red tag.”

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. The season runs from 1 October 2023 until 31 March 2024.

It is the seventh $10,000 barra to be caught in Season 9 of Australia’s richest fishing competition, supported by SportsBet.

Seven $10,000 barra caught in the first nine weeks of Season 9

SportsBet NT Operations and Partnerships Manager Thijs Bors said seven $10,000 barra had now been caught in the first nine weeks of Season 9.

“Congratulations to Nauiyu/Daly River resident, Jack, who has now reeled in his third $10,000 fish since Million Dollar Fish began in 2015,” he said.

“With more red-tagged Million Dollar Fish out there than ever before, the odds are definitely in favour of the fishos this season. We’re getting closer and closer to giving away the million and SportsBet can’t wait.”

Each time a fisho catches a $10,000 barra, they can donate an extra $1,000 to the Million Dollar Fish charity of their choice. Jack is giving the $1,000 to Riding for the Disabled Association Top End.

Riding for the Disabled Association Top End President Tania Lesneuck said: “We are excited to hear that Jack chose to share his Million Dollar Fish joy with RDA Top End! His donation will bring smiles to our riders and horses”.

There is still 92 red-tagged $10,000 barra out there, plus 12 barra sporting the big million-dollar tags released since the competition began. All are eligible to be caught.

To claim any cash from a red-tagged barra, a fisho must be registered for Million Dollar Fish. Registering is free and easy. Anyone who registers automatically goes in the monthly Lucky Prize Pool to win thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes.

Extra $1 million-dollar barra as Fishmas launches

Posted on by Leanne Hudson

Million Dollar Fish, supported by SportsBet, is the competition that keeps on giving. Season 9 is set to share the love this Fishmas through 12 days of surprises.

Fishmas will deliver on the ultimate Christmas wish-list, with the fishing elves revealing a new surprise each day from Friday, 1 December 2023.

Today’s surprise is that one of the barra originally worth $10,000 is now worth a million bucks. So there are now 12 chances to reel in a million dollars. There are also 93 barra worth $10,000 still swimming around out there.

The surprises include winning a fishing charter that will see you drop a line in some stunning locations. There are also vouchers to wine and dine at some of Darwin’s best restaurants, and some great fishing gear. Anyone registered for Season 9 is in the running to win. The full list of surprises will be revealed via the website and www.facebook.com/milliondollarfishNT.

Make this Christmas one for the memory books

Season 9 of Million Dollar Fish has already given away $70,000 to six lucky fishos who have reeled in a $10,000 barra (one was worth double the dough!).

So make this Christmas one for the memory books with plenty of red tags swimming around out there. This includes 94 barra worth $10,000, and 11 worth a million bucks.

Remember, someone is guaranteed to win a million dollars this season, and the big one could be reeled in anywhere with red-tagged barra released across Top End waterways. These include Darwin, Kakadu, Tiwi Islands, Katherine and Arnhem Land regions.

SportsBet NT Operations and Partnerships Manager Thijs Bors said as the major sponsor of Million Dollar Fish, SportsBet has given six lucky fishos cash for reeling in a red-tagged barra.

“Now anglers have the chance to snag some great Fishmas prizes too. Million Dollar Fish is the greatest fishing competition in Australia and, with the million guaranteed to go off this season, we can’t wait to change someone’s life simply through fishing,” he said.

Season 9 of Million Dollar Fish runs from 1 October 2023 to 31 March 2024. Anglers must register for Season 9 to claim any prize money from a red-tagged barra. This also automatically enters them into the monthly Lucky Prize Pool, which includes thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes such as holiday and flight packages, and fishing and camping gear. Register now for free at www.milliondollarfish.com.au.