Lincoln Kirby becomes 11th winner of Million Dollar Fish Season 10

There was plenty of celebrating when a long time fisho reeled in his first $10,000 barra to cement what has been the most successful start to a Million Dollar Fish season.

Lincoln Kirby reeled in the 11th Million Dollar Fish red-tagged $10,000 barra of Season 10 on October 16.

There was plenty of yelling and screaming when a lucky Northern Territory fisho reeled in the latest red-tagged barramundi to cement a huge start to the new Million Dollar Fish season.

Charter operator Lincoln Kirby pulled in the 11th $10,000 barramundi for Season 10 on October 16, giving him plenty to celebrate.

Mr Kirby took his daughter on a much-promised barra fishing session, with the pair chasing the red tags at the freshwater section of the Finnis River, and they got exactly that.

He was trawling across the river, when he reeled in the 69cm fish, and couldn’t believe his luck after 10 years of registering and fishing in the competition, without pulling in a red tag.

Mr Kirby is an experienced fishing guide and charter company owner, and will now have this as a point to brag about, as he becomes the 11th fisho to reel one in across the two weeks of Season 10.

The fisho said he couldn’t believe his luck after reeling in the prized barramundi with his guide.

“I couldn’t believe it. We were turning the boat around, and as I was winding the lure back to the boat, the barra grabbed my lure next to the boat,” Mr Kirby said.

“My guide who was with us at the time netted it, and we didn’t see the red tag until the barra was on the floor of the boat – that’s when it all went off and we started yelling and screaming.

“I keep telling my wife we’re going to catch a red tag and buy her a new kitchen – any excuse to go fishing. Now I don’t know if I can use that excuse anymore.”

Each season the competition sees red-tagged fish released in Darwin, Katherine, Arnhem Land, Kakadu and Tiwi Islands waterways.

Million Dollar Fish Season 10 runs until March 31, and is supported by Sportsbet, with free registration available at www.milliondollarfish.com.au.

NT Major Events Company acting chief executive Trevor Cox said it had been an unbelievable start to Season 10 with the most red-tagged barra ever caught in the first 16 days of the competition.

“It’s not just a win for the fishos, but also for our charity partner Cancer Council NT who in just under three weeks of the competition will receive $11,000,” he said.

“We’re incredibly lucky to live in such a unique part of Australia that offers some of the world’s best barramundi fishing.

“Million Dollar Fish plays an important role in amplifying our reputation as a bucket-list fishing destination, and contributes a lot to our regions from a social and economic perspective.”

SportsBet NT Operations and Partnerships manager Thijs Bors said the season had been spectacular for fishos.

“It’s prime time for barra fishing at the moment, so I’d encourage as many people as possible to register for Australia’s richest fishing competition and explore our world-class fishing regions for the chance to score a million bucks,” he said.