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

Darwin Angler Reveals $1 Million Barramundi Catch During Quiet Night Fishing Trip with Brother

A Darwin resident is $1 million wealthier after landing an 80‑centimeter, red‑tagged barramundi during a twilight fishing outing with his brother.

Matthew Maurice, 26, from the Northern Territory, completed his afternoon football training and set out on a Thursday evening boat trip with his brother, who was visiting from overseas.

“We didn’t feel the need to stray far, staying under a kilometre from the boat ramp,” Maurice explained to Channel 7’s Sunrise on Monday.

“We just wanted to fish and catch up; catching fish wasn’t the point—we simply wanted to spend time together.”

Although Maurice managed to hook a barramundi that evening, the moment his catch leapt from the water, a vivid red tag became immediately evident, indicating a major prize in the NT’s Million Dollar Fish competition.

“I hooked onto the fish and my instinct was to switch on my head torch; the first thing I saw was a large silver body and a bright red tag protruding from it,” he said.

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The competition releases 100 tagged barramundi, each carrying $10,000 in prize money, into various waterways, starting on 1 October, with one elusive top prize awaiting the eventual winner.

Only after turning in his catch did Maurice realize that the red tag on his barramundi represented the million‑dollar prize.

“I’m about to give you the best news of your life,” the NT’s chief minister, Lia Finocchiaro, reportedly told the man.

Maurice then contacted his mother and brother to share the fantastic news, outlining a plan to invest the winnings wisely.

“I’m simply thrilled to have caught a fish valued at a million dollars.”

“Any barramundi is a good catch, particularly this one that proved to be worth a million dollars.”

“It feels like I’m dreaming. I may not even be allowed to handle the cash. Someone else should manage it, but I’ll treat it wisely—perhaps by buying a home, paying off debts, and then indulging myself a little.”

Maurice joins Keegan Payne of Katherine, who secured the million‑dollar prize three years ago in the competition’s 12‑year history.

The initiative is sponsored by Tourism & Events Northern Territory, designed to showcase the region’s world‑class fishing experiences.

The competition runs through 31 March 2027, with dozens of tagged barramundi each carrying a $10,000 prize still to be claimed across Top End waterways, with 96 prizes remaining.

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