Arabic version: صياد من داروين يصطاد سمكة باراموندي بقيمة مليون دولار

According to ABC News, Darwin fisherman Matthew Maurice has caught the million-dollar barramundi in the Northern Territory’s latest Million Dollar Fish competition.

The 26-year-old was fishing with his little brother at Corroboree Billabong, east of Darwin, on a Thursday evening when he hooked the 80-centimetre fish. Maurice said he saw the barramundi jump within the first 10 seconds and noticed its bright red tag, before what he described as about two minutes of panic.

“I feel like I’m in a dream,” Maurice said after the catch. The red tag verified that he had landed the competition’s top-prize fish, making him only the second winner of the million-dollar prize in the contest’s 12-year history. Keegan Payne was the first winner in 2024 after fishing on the Katherine River.

Maurice called his family to share the news. He told his mother, “I’m a millionaire, Mum,” while his father responded that he was proud of him and said, “You’re set for life.” Maurice said he planned to use the money carefully, including potentially buying a house, paying off what he needed to pay off and treating himself a little.

The competition, paid out by sports gambling company Sportsbet, was established to attract tourists and fishers to the Top End during quieter wet-season months. This year’s event included one million-dollar tagged fish and 100 barramundi worth $10,000 each. Four of the $10,000 fish have been caught, and the competition runs until March 2027, with 96 still to be caught.