Million Dollar Fish launches double the dough initiative after fifth barra caught

David Anker caught the fifth $10,000 barra right before the Million Dollar Fish competition launched its double the dough initiative. Here’s how he will spend the money.

NT fishos have the chance to get lucky twice if they wet their tackle in the right spot this weekend.

The Million Dollar Fish competition’s double the dough initiative – where the first $10,000 barra caught is worth $20,000 – kicks off from 12am Saturday to 11.59pm Sunday.

It comes after a fisho who moved to the Territory less than a year ago caught season nine of the competition’s fifth $10,000 fish.

David Anker said the barra was the biggest he had caught to date and the fish’s red tag was icing on the cake.

The fish – caught at Woods Inlet – was 85cm.

“When I pulled it in I was excited about the fish before I saw the tag and even without the tag it would have been a great day,” Mr Anker said.

“It’s really exciting, I almost see it as a bonus.

“I feel like you don’t need a huge amount of incentive most of the time to be fishing up here because the fishing is amazing but also if you’re not catching fish there’s so much amazing stuff to see.”

David Anker caught an 85cm $10,000 fish during this year’s Million Dollar Fish competition.

Mr Anker said the “first thing” he thought to spend the prize money on was fuel costs after “burning across the harbour all year in an old two stroke”.

“I think that’s the other reason why some of my Darwin friends will be particularly excited is because I’m not a great fisherman,” he said.

“I’ve spent so many hours out there not catching fish, but I do love it anyway.

“This does mean that I might break even for a year of fishing.”

There are 95 $10,000 fish left in Darwin’s waterways, as well as 11 million-dollar barra.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the competition “keeps on giving”.

Ms Fyles said it was exciting to see the double the dough initiative launch alongside the guaranteed winner of the million-dollar fish.

“The Top End has some of the best fishing in the world and Million Dollar Fish continues to draw in anglers from across the country keen to try their luck at reeling in a prized million-dollar fish,” she said.

“We’ve already seen massive numbers for this season’s registrations, with 30,000 people registered so far and more than four months of the competition left.

“Last year the total number of registrations was 47,949.”

Originally published as Million Dollar Fish launches double the dough initiative after fifth barra caught