Darwin angler wins $1 million prize with red-tagged barramundi
A 26-year-old angler from Darwin, Matthew Maurice, has won the $1 million top prize in the Northern Territory's Million Dollar Fish competition, after catching an 80cm red-tagged barramundi, a native Australian fish. The Guardian reported the win on 2 November 2026.
Maurice caught the fish on a night-time fishing trip with his brother, who was visiting from overseas. The two had finished football training before heading out on Thursday evening. They fished less than a kilometre from the boat ramp.
He did not learn the fish carried the top prize until he turned in his catch. The Northern Territory Chief Minister, Lia Finocchiaro, then told him he had won.
The catch was part of the Million Dollar Fish competition, which is sponsored by Tourism & Events Northern Territory. It began on 1 October and runs until 31 March 2027. According to the Guardian, the competition released 100 tagged fish carrying $10,000 prizes, along with the single fish worth $1 million. At the time of reporting, 96 of the $10,000 fish had yet to be claimed.
Maurice is the second person to win the top prize in the competition's 12-year history. The first was Keegan Payne, from Katherine, who won three years ago.
The competition's official website says the current season, Season 12, runs from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, and that the $1 million fish was caught during it. Registration for the season is open, and signing up automatically enters anglers into monthly prize draws.
