Australia’s richest fishing comp offers more chances to catch a Million Dollar Fish with 11 now released

Season 9 of Million Dollar Fish opens on Sunday, 1 October 2023, and not one but two barramundi worth a million dollars have been released this season.

This means there are now 11 million-dollar barra swimming in the Territory’s pristine waterways to be caught in Australia’s richest fishing competition, which is underwritten by SportsBet.

Competition organiser Northern Territory Major Events Company (NTMEC) has confirmed a winner will take home a million dollars during Season 9, so there’s never been a better time to book a trip to the Northern Territory’s Top End and wet a line.

Releasing two ‘big ones’ is the first in a raft of initiatives to ensure a lucky angler reels in a million bucks. Further initiatives will be revealed as the season progresses.

As well as the two fish carrying million-dollar red tags, 100 barramundi sporting a $10,000 tag have also been released across the Top End’s pristine fishing regions of Darwin, Katherine, Kakadu, Arnhem Land and the Tiwi Islands. The Northern Territory has some of the best fishing in the country with anglers able to fish creeks, billabongs, rivers and the blue water.

Since Million Dollar Fish began in 2015, $925,000 has been paid out to anglers who have hooked a red-tagged barra, but the million-dollar barra has never been reeled in.

For Season 9, 11 barramundi with a million-dollar tag remain eligible to be caught, meaning there’s 11 chances to catch a million dollars. 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.

Million Dollar Fish is delivered by NTMEC on behalf of the Northern Territory Government. NTMEC CEO Suzana Bishop expects record-breaking registrations for the biggest prize pool yet.

“We saw record registrations for Season 8, and the most fish caught – 20! – but with enthusiasm for Season 9 so high, thanks to the promise the million will go off, it looks set to be even bigger. More than 16,000 eager anglers have already registered for free, and many are from interstate, which is great news for the Territory as they head here to enjoy the holiday of a lifetime,” Mrs Bishop said.

Season 8 of Million Dollar Fish generated a total expenditure stimulus of $70.8 million, 33.3 per cent ($23.6 million) of which was new money to the Top End region. It also delivers for the community, with winning fishos able to donate $1,000 to a Million Dollar Fish Season 9 Official Charity Partner when they snag a $10,000 barra. 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 Riding for the Disabled Association Top End.

SportsBet NT Operations and Partnerships Manager Thijs Bors said Million Dollar Fish has lured in anglers from all over the world.

“The Territory has the best fishing, the best people and the best lifestyle. It also offers you the chance to catch a million dollars. Why would you go anywhere else on holiday?” he said.

Only those registered for Season 9 can claim any cash from a red-tagged barra. Register for free at https://milliondollarfish.com.au/.