Darwin man lands million-dollar barramundi on night fishing trip with brother
Matthew Maurice, 26, of Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory, caught a red-tagged barramundi worth $1m. He is only the second person to win the top prize in the competition's 12-year history.
A 26-year-old man from Darwin, in Australia's Northern Territory, has won $1m after catching an 80cm barramundi carrying a red tag on Thursday evening. Matthew Maurice landed the fish in the Million Dollar Fish competition, which is run by Tourism & Events Northern Territory to promote the region's fishing.
A night out on the water
Maurice had just finished football training and took a boat out with his brother, who was visiting from overseas. They stayed less than a kilometre from the boat ramp. He said the aim was simply to fish and talk, and that catching something was beside the point.
When the fish leapt from the water, his head torch lit up its silver body and a bright red tag. He only learned the tag carried the top prize after handing in his catch. The Northern Territory's chief minister, Lia Finocchiaro, delivered the news to him.
About the competition
The competition began on 1 October. A hundred fish, each worth $10,000, were released into waterways, along with a single fish carrying the top prize. Maurice is the second person in the 12-year history of the competition to win it. Keegan Payne, a local man from Katherine, caught the million-dollar fish three years ago.
Maurice said he felt as if he were in a dream. He said he plans to be sensible with the money: buy a house, pay off what he owes and treat himself a little. He told his mother and brother the news by phone.
The competition runs until 31 March 2027. Across the Top End region, 96 of the $10,000 tagged fish have yet to be caught.
