Another NT fisho will be banking $10,000 after catching the sixth barramundi as part of the NT Government’s Million Dollar Fish competition.
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Darwin resident Paul Baunach reeled in a 63.5 centimetre $10,000 barra at Channel Island.
It was the same barra released by Top End Golden Ticket winner Rodney Ward who won the opportunity to release one of the 101 prize-tagged barra.
Mr Ward congratulated Mr Baunach on the catch, “I was hoping someone would catch that particular fish,” he said.
A chef by trade Mr Baunach is originally from Newcastle and often goes fishing in the NT.
“I caught another fish earlier in the week in a different spot, and heard some fisho’s out there talking about seeing a fish with a red tag so I was looking out for one,” Mr Baunach said.
“When I saw the fish I could see it had a red tag and thought I’d better hook it.”
Mr Baunach plans to use his winnings to go on a surf trip with mates to Indonesia.
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The Million Dollar Fish competition kicked off on October 1 with a record six $10,000 fish caught in the first 16 days of the competition and the $1 Million tagged barramundi still to be caught.
Contest officials said at least one tagged fish has been released in the Katherine region.
Tourism and Culture department CEO Alastair Shields congratulated Mr Baunach on being the sixth fisho to hook a prize-tagged fish.
“Just yesterday I said to get out on the water to fish the NT, the conditions are proving perfect for fisho’s,” Mr Shields said.
“I encourage all anglers and their families to come to the Territory, try their luck at catching the Million Dollar Fish and enjoy our unique tourism experiences while they’re here.”
In Season 3 of the competition, 101 barramundi have been tagged and released across the Territory with 100 carrying $10,000 cash prize tags.
That means there are still 94 $10,000 barra's lurking and the prized Million Dollar Fish to be caught, plus a haul of prizes to be won just by registering for the competition.
The Million Dollar Fish competition attracts approximately 40,000 interstate visitors to the Top End for fishing each year, as well as an additional 40,000 Territorians that travel to fish across the year.
CrownBet CEO Matt Tripp said he was delighted to see the sixth tagged barra caught in a great start to the season.
“Million Dollar Fish is the greatest fishing comp in Australia, and we’re hoping season 3 will reel in the big one,” Mr Tripp said.
“Season 1 saw 10 prize-tagged barramundi worth $10,000 each caught and season two reeled in eight $10,000 barra’s, so the competition has had a total of $180,000 in cash awarded and we’re tipping season three might top both seasons.”