Million-dollar fish caught by Darwin man ‘just fishing and talking’ at night with brother

Matthew Maurice, a 26-year-old from the Northern Territory, won a $1 million prize after catching an 80cm barramundi in a night-time fishing competition. Maurice, along with his brother who was visiting from overseas, decided to go fishing near a boat ramp less than a kilometre from the ramp. While they were fishing, Maurice was thrilled to find a red tag on the fish's body, indicating that it was part of the NT's Million Dollar Fish competition.

The competition began on October 1st and offered 100 fish, each carrying $10,000 in prize money, alongside one elusive top prize of $1 million. Maurice discovered he had the winning fish when he turned in his catch. The chief minister of the Northern Territory, Lia Finocchiaro, congratulated him on his remarkable catch, telling him that it was the best news ever.

Maurice plans to use the winnings wisely by buying a house, settling any outstanding debts, and treating himself to something special. This win marks Maurice as the second person to ever win the top prize in the 12-year history of the competition. The Northern Territory's Million Dollar Fish competition is sponsored by Tourism & Events Northern Territory and aims to showcase the region's world-class fishing experiences.

The competition continues until March 31st, 2027, with many tagged barramundi still uncaught, each carrying $10,000 in prize money and 96 yet to be claimed.