$10,000 prize split between best mates

Two best mates were catching up when they reeled in a tagged 76cm barra. Read how they will spend the cash.

Two best mates have reeled in a $10,000 barramundi as part of the Million Dollar Fish Season 9.

Darwin resident Beau Cartledge hooked the 76cm red-tagged barra while fishing at Shoal Bay on Friday.

Beau was accompanied by his best mate, Dean Lucas, who was visiting from WA.

“Dean and I had spoken about catching the Million Dollar Fish and we were just fishing pretty much,” Mr Cartledge said.

“We’d caught a couple, and we were fishing in an area where there was heaps of fish and we could see signs of good fish.

“We just fished and caught fish, and it was good when the fish hit the deck.

Beau Cartledge with his catch.

“We’d both seen the tag at the time, so it was pretty wild.”

The best mates had agreed they would split the cash if they caught the much-desired prize.

With the option to donate an extra $1000 to the Million Dollar Fish charity of their choice, Mr Cartledge elected to contribute to the Starlight Children’s Foundation Darwin Star Ball.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles described the hook as “fantastic” and a great advert for the NT.

Dean Lucas and Beau Cartledge were fishing together when the tagged fish was.

“Fishing in the Territory is unparalleled and to see another angler hook a $10,000 red-tagged barramundi is fantastic,” she said.

“It’s especially exciting a visitor from WA has benefited from Australia’s richest fishing competition.

“As Dean has learnt, Million Dollar Fish is the perfect reason to visit the Territory or to go fishing with a mate.”

Mr Cartledge’s catch means there remain 96 $10,000 barramundi waiting to be caught, plus 11 barra carrying tags worth a million dollars.