A Darwin man is $1 million richer after catching an 80-centimetre, red-tagged barramundi on a night-time fishing trip with his brother, becoming the second person in the Northern Territory's Million Dollar Fish competition to snag the top prize in its 12-year history.
Matthew Maurice, 26, had finished football training on Thursday evening when he and his brother, who was visiting from overseas, took a boat out. They went less than a kilometre from the boat ramp. "We just wanted to fish and talk, that was the only thing. Whether we caught fish or not, it didn't matter. We just wanted to be together," he told Channel 7's Sunrise on Monday. When the barramundi jumped out of the water, he saw a bright red tag. "My first reaction was to turn my head torch on, the first thing that lit up was pretty much a big silver body and a big red tag hanging out of it," he said.
The Million Dollar Fish competition, sponsored by Tourism & Events Northern Territory and meant to tout the region's "world-class fishing experiences", released 100 fish each carrying $10,000 into waterways when it began on 1 October, plus a single million-dollar prize. Maurice learned his fish carried the top prize only after handing it in. The NT's chief minister, Lia Finocchiaro, reportedly told him: "I'm about to give you the best news of your life."
Maurice said he planned to do something “smart” with the winnings, mentioning a house and paying off anything he needs to pay off. “I feel like I’m in a dream,” he said. “I don’t think I should be allowed to touch the money. Someone else might need to look after it for me. But I’ll probably be smart with it, buy a house, pay off anything I need to pay off, and then treat myself a little bit.” He also remarked: “Any barra is a good barra, especially the million-dollar one.”
A local man from Katherine, Keegan Payne, won the top prize three years ago. The competition continues until 31 March 2027, with 96 tagged barramundi worth $10,000 each still to be claimed.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The win is only the second in the competition's 12-year history, a sign of how rare the top prize is.
- The program is a tourism promotion designed to advertise the region's "world-class fishing experiences".
- With 96 tagged $10,000 barramundi still in the water, the competition runs until 31 March 2027.
Background
The Million Dollar Fish competition is a Northern Territory fishing program run by Tourism & Events Northern Territory. It stocks Top End waterways with 100 tagged fish worth $10,000 each and a single fish carrying a $1 million prize. An angler who lands a tagged fish wins the attached bounty.
What to Watch
- The remaining 96 tagged $10,000 barramundi still to be caught before the competition closes on 31 March 2027.
- How Maurice uses his winnings; he has said he wants to be "smart" with the money, including buying a house.
- Whether the promotion draws more visitors to Top End fishing, the program's stated purpose.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedA Darwin angler caught the million-dollar barramundi.World news | The Guardian: “A Darwin man is $1m richer after angling an 80cm, red-tagged barramundi during a night-time fishing trip with his brother.”
- SupportedMatthew Maurice caught the red-tagged fish on a night trip with his brother and won the competition’s top prize.World news | The Guardian: “It was only after he turned in his catch that Maurice discovered the red tag on his barramundi carried the million-dollar prize.”
- SupportedMaurice became $1 million richer after catching an 80-centimetre red-tagged barramundi on a night fishing trip with his brother.World news | The Guardian: “A Darwin man is $1m richer after angling an 80cm, red-tagged barramundi during a night-time fishing trip with his brother.”
- SupportedMaurice was the second person to win the top prize in the competition’s 12-year history.World news | The Guardian: “Maurice has become the second person in the competition’s 12-year history to win the top prize.”
- SupportedMaurice, 26, had finished football training and went out on Thursday evening with his brother, who was visiting from overseas.World news | The Guardian: “Matthew Maurice, a 26-year-old from the Northern Territory , had finished football training and decided to take a boat out on Thursday evening with his sibling, who was visiting from overseas.”
- SupportedMaurice told Channel 7’s Sunrise on Monday, “We just wanted to fish and talk, that was the only thing. Whether we caught fish or not, it didn’t matter. We just wanted to be together.”World news | The Guardian: ““We just wanted to fish and talk, that was the only thing. Whether we caught fish or not, it didn’t matter. We just wanted to be together.””
- SupportedMaurice said his first reaction was to turn on his head torch, and he saw a silver body and a red tag.World news | The Guardian: ““I hooked up to the fish and my first reaction was to turn my head torch on, the first thing that lit up was pretty much a big silver body and a big red tag hanging out of it,” he said.”
- SupportedChief Minister Lia Finocchiaro reportedly told Maurice, “I'm about to give you the best news of your life.”World news | The Guardian: ““I’m about to give you the best news of your life,” the NT’s chief minister, Lia Finocchiaro, reportedly told the man.”
- SupportedMaurice said, “I feel like I’m in a dream,” and that he would probably be smart with the money, buy a house, pay off what he needed to, and treat himself.World news | The Guardian: ““I feel like I’m in a dream,” he went on. “I don’t think I should be allowed to touch the money. Someone else might need to look after it for me. But I’ll probably be smart with it, buy a house, pay off anything I need to pay off, and then treat myself a little bit.””
- SupportedMaurice said, “Any barra is a good barra, especially the million-dollar one.”World news | The Guardian: ““Any barra is a good barra, especially the million-dollar one.””
- SupportedThe competition released 100 fish carrying $10,000 each into waterways and also had a single top prize.World news | The Guardian: “As part of the competition, 100 fish – each carrying prize money of $10,000 – were released into waterways for the competition, which began 1 October, alongside the one, elusive top prize.”
- SupportedThe competition continues until 31 March 2027, with 96 tagged barramundi worth $10,000 each still to be claimed.World news | The Guardian: “The competition continues until 31 March 2027, with dozens of tagged barramundi worth a $10,000 bounty left to be caught in regions across the Top End, with 96 yet to be claimed.”