Keegan Payne catches Million Dollar Fish in Katherine River, gets $1 million from Sportsbet

After nine seasons, the coveted Million Dollar Fish has finally gone off – and the winner has big plans for his winnings. WATCH THE VIDEO.

A teenage Territorian is counting his cash after reeling in the coveted Million Dollar Fish.

The 19-year-old from Katherine was on a fishing trip with one of his sisters and a friend when he snagged the ultimate prize in the Katherine River early on Sunday morning.

The lucky winner, Keegan Payne, called the Million Dollar Fish hotline at 1am and has now won $1 million from Sportsbet as part of the competition.

Payne said the win would be life-changing for his family.

Keegan Payne wins the Million dollar Barra. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“This is crazy for us, we’re a big family, there’s eight of us, this is more money than we could ever ask for. This is just great,” he said.

“It means so much. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. I’m happy, really happy.

“I can buy what I want, maybe help dad and mum out with the home loans.”

The Million Dollar Fish competition is in its ninth season and so far eight other fishos have shared in $90,000 after each reeling in $10,000 fish – one which was a Double the Dough catch.

With the season set to end at midnight, April 30, all other Season 9 fish are now worth $10,000 until the clock ticks over this evening.

His win comes as an extra month was added to the competition, with organisers promising that the money will “definitely” be given away.

Keegan was announced the winner Tuesday morning at the Darwin Waterfront Peninsula Lawns, with Chief Minister Eva Lawler and Sportsbet chief executive Barni Evans touching down in a helicopter to deliver the cheque.

Keegan Payne with his million dollar barra. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

A crowd had gathered to see who the winner would be, and when Ms Lawler announced Keegan’s name, applause and cheers erupted.

The young winner walked on stage to receive his oversized cheque from Ms Lawler and Mr Evans.

A burst of confetti marked the moment, and Keegan told the crowd he was grateful for the money and planned to use it to help his family – after he bought a new boat and dual cab LandCruiser ute to tow it.

Keegan’s million dollar barra was also there, which he said measured “67 and a half.”

“It was a pretty good fight, it didn’t take more than 10 seconds,” was how he described nabbing the barra.

Keegan Payne with his cheque for a million dollars. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

He said he used a live bait with cherabin to snag it after sitting at a spot on the Katherine River for four hours.

He was on the boat with one of his mates and his little sister, who spotted the million dollar tag on the fish, according to Keegan.

Keegan said he’d entered the competition for the last two years but wasn’t specifically chasing the prize and that he was “just going fishing.”

Keegan said still had plans to enter in season 10 of the competition and while it wasn’t the biggest fish he’s ever caught, he said the barra is now the most memorable.

The Cancer Council also received an oversized check for $10,000 thanks to Keegan choosing it as charity of choice.

Sportsbet confirmed the competition would be returning for season 10.

Originally published as Keegan Payne catches Million Dollar Fish in Katherine River, gets $1 million from Sportsbet