It seems the number thirteen is lucky for some with the 13th prized fish of the Million Dollar Fish competition jumping onto a fishing line of a lucky local fisho, netting him a cool $10,000 in the process.
With just nine days to go for Season 3 of the Million Dollar Fish competition, local anglers have switched tactics to suit conditions and have taken to land-based fishing spots and to fishing in and around Darwin Harbour in a last ditch effort to land the elusive Million Dollar barra.
And it looks like those tactics have paid off. Darwin self-employed tree lopper John Rorvik landed his 58 centimetre red-tagged barra land-based fishing off the Darwin Harbour foreshore – on rocks near the Deckchair Cinema – a hugely popular fishing spot for locals in the know.
“I saw the tag and thought ‘typical’, thinking the competition had already finished, rang my partner and she told me it was still on until the end of the month so this is a really lucky catch just in time.”
With the all-important verification photos and emails sent, John promptly gifted the fish to a friend who has wasted no time in filleting it ready to cook it up for a meal.
Tourism NT General Manager Marketing Tony Quarmby congratulated John on not only reeling in the 13th prize-tagged fish of the competition, but taking out the record for the most fish caught in any of the Million Dollar Fish seasons to date.
“What a catch,” Mr Quarmby said. “The Darwin Harbour foreshore is absolutely one of the best places for a spot of fishing and, given current conditions, the place to be if you’re chasing the Million Dollar fish over the remaining nine days of competition.”
“I really encourage all anglers to come to the Territory, try their luck at catching the Million Dollar Fish and enjoy our unique tourism experiences while they’re here,” he said. “Whether it’s catching a barra straight off the rocks, like John, or taking a fishing charter, Darwin Harbour is teeming with some of the best eating fish in Australia, including the iconic barramundi.”
Mr Quarmby said the Million Dollar Fish competition was a tourism initiative designed to lure more visitors to the Territory during the wet season and boost the NT’s reputation as the best place in the world to stay, play and fish, attracting around 40,000 interstate visitors to the Top End for fishing each year.
In Season 3 of the competition, 101 barramundi were tagged and released across the Territory with 100 carrying $10,000 cash prize tags. That means there are still 87 $10,000 barras lurking and the prized Million Dollar Fish to be caught.
Just by registering for the competition, you are eligible to win the prize-tagged $10,000 or $1 million fish, but you’ll also be in the running to win a swag of fantastic prizes as part of the Million Dollar Fish prize pool.
Thursday, 22 February 2018 will see a $14,000 Cobourg Fishing Safari Holiday package – complete with flights, transfers and accommodation – and two $1,000 BCF gift cards drawn, ahead of Season three competition close next Wednesday 28 February 2018.
CrownBet CEO Matt Tripp congratulated John on winning the 13th $10,000 fish of the season.
“Season 3 has proven to be an absolute thumper of a season, with 13 prize-tagged fish caught the record of the most fish caught in any season has well and truly been smashed and, best of all, there’s still nine days to go for a chance to catch that elusive million dollar barra,” Mr Tripp said.
Season 1 saw 10 prize-tagged barramundi worth $10,000 each caught, season 2 reeled in eight $10,000 barras and with this latest catch of number 13 for season 3 the competition has awarded a total of $310,000 in cash.
Season 3 of the Million Dollar Fish competition runs until the end of February 2018 and participants must register online at www.milliondollarfish.com.au for their chance to win a prized barra or one of the sponsors’ prizes.
For information on NT fishing regulations and best practice catch and release methods download the free Northern Territory (NT) Fishing Mate app on your smart phone.
Source: NT Government
Image supplied by NT Government
