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 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
“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
“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 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.
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.
