It was the catch of a lifetime for Kin (Akim) Lay, whose early morning fishing trip on Saturday 15 February turned into a whopping $50,000 payday!
Heading out to Bridge Billabong on the Mary River, Akim landed a cracking 72cm red-tagged barramundi, the first of Season 10’s prized fish to be caught this year.
Thanks to the Size Matters campaign, Akim’s barra wasn’t just worth the standard $10,000 prize: it netted him an extra $40,000 as it was the only tagged fish caught in February. That’s a massive $50,000 win for the lucky Palmerston fisho.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing, though. Just as he was reeling in the prized catch, the barra swam into a snag.
However, patience paid off, and eventually the fish swam out of the submerged timber.
Akim pulled it in, only to spot the legendary MDF red tag.
A FIFO worker, Akim had to wait over a week to get his big win verified.
While he was stoked with the $10,000, scoring the full $50,000 was next level! The prize will help his young family pay some bills and save for the future: a true game-changer.
Sportsbet NT Operations and Partnerships Manager, Thijs Bors, said: “Million Dollar Fish once again delivers for fishos, with Akim taking home a healthy cheque.
“Congratulations! For those considering heading out for a fish, take Akim’s advice and wet a line… you never know what you’ll reel in.”
Northern Territory Major Events Company Acting CEO, Trevor Cox, said:“2025 had a slow start, but it’s kicked off with a bang, with the first $10k fisho taking home a tidy $50,000 as the winner of the Size Matters campaign.
“This competition continues to change lives, and this year is no different.
“With less than a month left to fish, anglers who want to be a part of the action should register and wet a line – it’s that easy.”
There are still 82 red-tagged barramundi worth $10,000 swimming around Top End waters, plus 10 fish tagged with a life-changing million-dollar prize.
The stakes are high – once one of those million-dollar fish is caught, the rest will convert to $10,000 prizes until the season wraps up.
Every time a $10,000 barra is landed, Cancer Council NT scores a $1,000 donation.
Thanks to the Size Matters campaign, this time the charity is receiving $5,000 which brings the total donation pool to $21,000 so far.
Since Season 10 kicked off on 1 October, a whopping $231,000 has already been handed out to lucky fishos and charity!
Million Dollar Fish Season 10 wraps up on 31 March 2025 so, if you’re keen to claim prize money, make sure you’re registered.
The comp, delivered by Northern Territory Major Events Company and backed by Sportsbet, is completely free to enter for anyone 18 and over.
Even better, just by signing up, you go into the monthly prize draw worth $79,000
Don’t miss your chance – register now at: milliondollarfish.com.au/register
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The Top End fishing scene is definitely starting to ramp up and leading the charge this weekend is the first round of the Top End Barra Series in 2025.
As with most year’s, it will be held at Shady Camp with anglers being able to fish all the way from Marsh Creek to the Wildman River.
There are plenty of coastal creeks in between those two locations but the neap tides this weekend are more conducive to fishing Shady itself and Wildman River.
I had good reports of nice barra being caught at the South Alligator.
Apparently, there’s plenty of clear water coming out of several creeks.
The Daly too is starting to fish better as the river drops.
Mostly anglers have had to travel way downriver but a couple of smaller creeks up towards the crossing have been firing up.
As always happens early in the Runoff, creeks in Anson Bay out from the mouth of the Daly have been going off with serious silver barra.
I haven’t heard much about the Adelaide River, other than there has been too much water upriver.
Notwithstanding the paucity of monsoonal activity this year, the recreational barra fishery is in pretty good shape.
Kin (Akim) Lay fished Mary River Bridge Lagoon with a purpose that succeeded in the capture of this 72cm barra which won the Million Dollar Fish Size Matters competition and a cheque for $50,000.
Harper Neighbour, 11, with her PB barra from the Daly River.
