Could this be the year?
Will someone finally catch a tagged barra worth $1 million?
The odds just keep getting shorter that this will happen.
Registrations for Season 8 of Million Dollar Fish are now open, and the number
of barra swimming around which are each worth a million bucks has increased
by one more to nine.
Yes, you read that right: there are now nine chances to catch a SportsBet
tagged barramundi worth $1 million.
Season 8 starts on 1 October and will finish at 11.59pm on 31 March next year.
This season’s prize purse is the biggest yet, with 100 barra worth $10,000
released in Top End waterways and, of course, the nine barra worth $1 million
each.
Million Dollar Fish is run by Northern Territory Major Events Company
(NTMEC) on behalf of the Northern Territory Government, and is underwritten
by SportsBet.
NTMEC CEO Tim Watsford said the latest instalment of Million Dollar Fish
follows a record-breaking Season 7, which saw 16 anglers take home $10,000
each.
“We’re gearing up for another big season of Million Dollar Fish, and now is the
time to register, get your fishing gear in order and book a trip to the Territory
to join the search,” he said.
SportsBet NT Operations and Partnerships Manager, Thijs Bors, is a mad fisho
himself.
“The adrenaline of landing a barra, combined with the chance to win a million
dollars, makes Million Dollar Fish the world's most exciting fishing
competition,” Thijs said.
Thijs has been out in the field with the NT Fisheries electrofishing team,
catching, tagging and releasing prized fish.
“There are fish going everywhere,” he told me.
“Also, for first time, we’re throwing tagged fish into Timber Creek, so the
mighty Victoria River will have red-tagged barra swimming around and waiting
to be recaptured.
“We’re covering all over the Territory, and we’ve tagged barra from 55cm up
to a whopping 105cm, including a couple in the 90s, so it’s a pretty good
spread this year.
“I’ve been fishing up here for years and own a 5.2m boat but, in one day
electrofishing, I caught more barra than I have in three years from my own
boat,” Thijs said.
“My cousin came out to visit and I took her fishing on the Adelaide River.
“I couldn’t believe it when, on her very first cast, she caught an 88cm barra.
“It just goes to show that anyone can catch a $1 million fish,” Thijs explained.
Million Dollar Fish is Australia’s richest fishing competition and, each time a
registered participant catches a $10,000 barramundi, an additional $1,000 will
be donated to an official Million Dollar Fish charity partner.
Similarly, $10,000 will go to a charity partner when a lucky angler hooks and
lands a Million Dollar Fish.
Once any of the nine Million Dollar Fish are caught, the remaining eight revert
to $10,000 fish.
Official Million Dollar Fish merchandise returns in Season 8, including a new
lure, limited edition fishing shirt, stubby cooler and Fish Headz.
Everyone who registers for Season 8 will receive a merchandise discount code,
including the chance to grab a special merchandise pack containing all items
for just $90, a saving of almost $50.
Registered participants will also be in the running to win Top End holiday
packages, Airnorth airfares, Engel fridge-freezers, Shimano fishing packs, Britz
campervan getaways, Million Dollar Fish merchandise and more.
Million Dollar Fish began in 2015, and has been a popular drawcard for visitors
to travel to the Top End for the chance to become a millionaire.
Fishos from across the country have taken home significant cash prizes, but the
Million Dollar Fish is yet to be caught.
To register for free or find out more, visit www.milliondollarfish.com.au
SportsBet’s Thijs Bors with a barra destined to be tagged and released
for Million Dollar Fish Season 8.
Wayne Baldwin from NT Fisheries releases a red-tagged barra for Season
8.
