NT angler second person in history to reel in million-dollar fish

Matthew Maurice, a 26-year-old Darwinite, has reeled in the winning catch in the NT's latest Million Dollar Fish contest. The Territorian is only the second person to win the top prize in the competition's 12-year history. What's next? The competition wraps up in March 2027, with 96 more fish, each valued at $10,000, yet to be caught. When Matthew Maurice saw a red-tagged barramundi during a rural NT fishing trip with his little brother, there was chaos in their tinnie. "I saw the fish jump within the first 10 seconds and spotted a bright red tag hanging out of it," he said. "There was about two minutes of absolute panic and then I don't actually remember netting it. "It was probably the most stressful two minutes of my life." The 26-year-old Territorian was enjoying a Thursday evening at Corroboree Billabong, a popular Top End fishing spot east of Darwin, when he snagged the 80-centimetre fish. Mr Maurice is the second person in the Million Dollar Fish competition's 12-year history to take out the top prize, with its red tag verifying the Darwinite had snagged the winning barramundi. "I feel like I'm in a dream," he said. "Any barra is a good barra, especially the million-dollar one." The competition, which is paid out by sports gambling company Sportsbet, was set up in a bid to lure tourists and fishers to the Top End in the quieter wet season months. [Image text:] THE< PLACE to visit in2026 D