Darwin local Otto Kainulainen reels in $10k barra at Fisherman’s Wharf

A Darwin local was given the perfect reward to cap off a long day at work when he reeled in the second $10,000 haul of the new Million Dollar Fish season. Read the details.

Otto Kainulainen landed the second red-tagged barra of Million Dollar Fish season 11.

A Darwin local was given the perfect reward to cap off a long day at work when he reeled in the second $10,000 haul of the new Million Dollar Fish season.

Otto Kainulainen from Karama caught the 81.5cm barramundi at Fisherman’s Wharf about 9.30pm on Thursday to become the second winner of the season.

The fish was one of those released by Minister Gerard Maley at Dinah Beach Boat Ramp before the start of the season, and carries a $10k prize-tag.

Mr Kainulainen said the catch was unplanned and not what he was expecting but when he spotted the tag his instant reaction was “Cha-ching!”.

“It was very spontaneous. I was just trying to have a relaxing time and throw a rod in after a long day,” he said.

Otto Kainulainen, with minister Gerard Maley, landed the second red-tagged barra of Million Dollar Fish season 11.

“It was just a pure flukey. I’m not a brilliant fisherman by any stretch of the imagination.

“Just to get out and about and drop the rod in. I was there for a while, probably about an hour and a half I guess at the time. And it just hit, it just struck.

“We always like holidaying. And I’m sure it’ll contribute to holiday funds.”

He said the low tide and rocky conditions made the catch particularly tricky to reel in

“It was quite low tide, very rocky down there on that edge,” Mr Kainulainen said.

“Getting it down from the rocks, that was the most problematic.

“I didn’t see the tag until the fish got very, very close, because it was very dark and obviously being red, it just blended into the background.”