The short version
- A Darwin resident has won $1 million by catching a specially tagged barramundi in the Northern Territory's Million Dollar Fish competition.
- The catch occurred during a low-key evening outing close to home, marking only the second time the top prize has been claimed in the program's history.
- Organizers aim to boost regional tourism through the contest, which continues with dozens of smaller cash prizes still available for anglers.
A casual night of fishing in Darwin has resulted in a life-changing financial windfall for a local resident who landed the top prize in a major regional competition. Matthew Maurice, a 26-year-old man from the Northern Territory, secured $1 million after catching an 80-centimeter barramundi bearing a distinctive red tag. The catch occurred on a Thursday evening when Maurice and his brother, who was visiting from overseas, decided to take a boat out shortly after Maurice finished football training.
The brothers did not travel far from the boat ramp, venturing less than one kilometer into the water. Their primary goal was companionship rather than sport; they intended simply to talk and enjoy each other's company regardless of whether they caught anything. It was only when the fish jumped out of the water that Maurice noticed the bright red tag attached to its silvery body. He immediately turned on his head torch, confirming the presence of the marker that signals a significant win in the Northern Territory’s Million Dollar Fish competition.
Maurice did not realize the magnitude of his catch until he submitted it for verification. Officials informed him that the specific red tag he had retrieved was linked to the grand prize rather than one of the smaller bounties. The Northern Territory’s chief minister, Lia Finocchiaro, reportedly delivered the news personally, telling Maurice he was about to receive the best news of his life. Maurice subsequently contacted his mother and brother to share the unexpected development.
The Million Dollar Fish initiative is a promotional program sponsored by Tourism & Events Northern Territory. The campaign aims to highlight the region’s world-class fishing opportunities by releasing tagged fish into local waterways. Since the competition began on October 1, organizers have placed 100 fish carrying $10,000 prizes each into the ecosystem, along with one elusive top prize worth $1 million. The program is designed to attract anglers and boost tourism in the Top End region.
Maurice’s victory makes him only the second person in the twelve-year history of the competition to claim the million-dollar jackpot. The previous winner was Keegan Payne, a local man from Katherine who caught a tagged fish three years ago. The rarity of the top prize underscores the difficulty of the challenge, as anglers must locate and catch a specific marked fish among countless others in vast waterways.
Regarding his winnings, Maurice expressed a desire to manage the money responsibly. He stated that he feels somewhat overwhelmed by the amount, joking that he might not be allowed to touch it himself and that someone else should oversee the funds. His plans include purchasing a home, paying off existing debts, and treating himself modestly. He emphasized that he is simply happy to have caught fish, noting that any barramundi is a good catch, but this one carries exceptional value.
The competition remains active until March 31, 2027. While the top prize has been claimed, dozens of tagged barramundi worth $10,000 each are still at large in regions across the Northern Territory. According to organizers, 96 of these smaller prizes have yet to be claimed, offering continued incentives for local and visiting anglers to participate in the event.
The incident highlights how tourism campaigns can intersect with everyday life in unexpected ways. What began as a simple bonding experience between siblings turned into a major news story due to the presence of a promotional tag on a common game fish. The outcome serves as both a personal milestone for Maurice and a successful publicity moment for the Northern Territory’s fishing industry.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian World↗Million-dollar fish caught by Darwin man ‘just fishing and talking’ at night with brother
