Million Dollar Fish winner guaranteed in season nine, 2023

One lucky fisho is ‘guaranteed’ to win the Million Dollar Fish in the upcoming season. Read one angler’s tips.

A fishy fortune could be lurking in the most unlikely of places as an additional two million-dollar barra enter Top End waterways.

Season nine of the Million Dollar Fish launches on Sunday, with one lucky fisho “guaranteed” to reel in the jackpot for the first time in the competition’s history.

Fisho Nathan Corpus almost let a $10,000 barramundi slip away while he was on the hunt for a bigger prize during last year’s season.

Mr Corpus said he caught the red-tagged fish in a section of the Daly River he would have never wasted time on previously.

Season eight winner Nathan Corpus. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mr Corpus said he’d followed two big fish into the unusual spot but hooked the wrong fish.

“It was only a little one, and then I looked back at the sound and I’ve seen the two big ones just go, so I’m skull dragging this fish across the water trying to get it off so we could go and have a crack at the bigger ones.

“When it got close to the boat, it flipped over and we saw the tag.”

Mr Corpus said he started planning to buy the “flashiest” boat out there soon after he tucked his prize safely into an Esky.

Cricket legend Merv Hughes said he was excited to have a go at reeling in the million-dollar fish. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Sportsbet partnership manager Thijs Bors said fishos across the Territory had hooked $925,000 worth of blingy fish over the past eight seasons, but none had caught an elusive million-dollar prize yet.

Mr Bors said plans were in place to make sure one lucky fisho reeled in a big prize this year, but could not give away how the goalposts would be moved to avoid early season cheaters.

Major Events Minister Paul Kirby holding the tagged million dollar barramundi as he officially open season nine of the Million Dollar Fish competition. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Major Events Minister Paul Kirby said it would be exciting to finally see the million-dollar fish caught.

“Million Dollar Fish has lured people from all over the world to the NT to wet a line and try their luck, so make sure you register and get out on the water for the chance to become a millionaire and get yourself in the history books.”

Territorians can win big without even wetting a line – simply registering for the competition puts a fisho in the prize draw pool.

Originally published as Million Dollar Fish winner guaranteed in season nine, 2023