Barra bonanza in final month of Million Dollar Fish Season 7

There has never been a better time to fish the Northern Territory, with barra fishing at its best and prize-tagged fish being caught across the Top End as part of Australia’s richest fishing competition, Million Dollar Fish, underwritten by SportsBet.

Off the back of a campaign called ‘Australia’s Most Wanted Fish’, which was launched earlier this month, fishos have been trying their luck across the Top End to track down the Season 7 Million Dollar Fish, last seen in Darwin Harbour.

Of the thousands of fishos who have joined the search, another two lucky hopefuls found themselves $10,000 richer on Sunday after hooking a red-tagged barramundi. While they weren’t successful in bagging the Season 7 fish worth a million bucks, the anglers managed to lure in two of the red-tagged runaway’s accomplices, worth $10,000 each.

Josh James of Acacia Hills landed a 90cm barramundi while fishing with family on the Adelaide River. He looks forward to purchasing his kids a couple of motorbikes, and will donate his additional $1,000 to the Starlight Children’s Foundation Darwin Star Ball.

“There was a fair bit of cheering and yahooing when we saw the red tag,” he said. “It was so easy to sign up to Million Dollar Fish – it’s a pretty cool concept, going fishing in the NT and getting cash for free.”

Another Acacia Hills resident, Jarryd Price, also found himself with a red-tagged barramundi in his esky over the weekend. He was land-based fishing with a friend at the iconic Daly River using a handline when he bagged his 64cm barramundi. It wasn’t until later on in the day, when the two were cleaning and filleting the fish, that they noticed the red tag covered in algae. Jarryd opted to give his additional $1,000 to Cancer Council NT.

“I’ve registered for Million Dollar Fish for a few seasons now, but never really thought I’d be lucky enough to get a red-tagged fish,” he said.

After ‘Australia’s Most Wanted Fish’ launched earlier this month, fishos have hit the Territory’s five main fishing regions – Darwin, Tiwi Islands, Katherine, Kakadu and Arnhem Land – in droves to track down the Season 7 Million Dollar Fish, who is still on the swim. Authorities have made fresh calls for the community to join search efforts to uncover the whereabouts of the head fishy fugitive, along with seven of his scaly relatives who also carry cash rewards of $1 million. Around 98 other Season 7 gang members are at large and carry a $10,000 reward.

Tim Watsford, CEO of Northern Territory Major Events Company, organiser of Million Dollar Fish, said search efforts have stepped up a notch with just a few weeks left of Season 7.

“Through Australia’s Most Wanted Fish we are encouraging as many fishos as possible to register, experience our world-class fishing and hopefully bag the Season 7 Million Dollar Fish,” he said. “There’s plenty of time to get involved, so wet a line in the Top End today for your chance to become a million bucks richer.”

The eight fish carrying a $1 million reward can be caught year-round, but the $10,000 fish are only active until 31 March 2022, the end of Season 7. Once the first Million Dollar Fish is caught, cash rewards for the remaining seven fugitives decrease to $10,000 each until the end of March, or become null and void if the Big One is caught between April and September.

Anglers MUST be registered for Season 7 to claim any cash from a red-tagged fish. Registrations close on 31 March 2022. To register for free, visit www.milliondollarfish.com.au.