Million Dollar Fish launches with promise top prize will be won

The Million Dollar Fish competition is just around the corner and organisers have promised the top prize will be given away this season.

Eight seasons of Million Dollar Fish season have been held with a string of major prizes won but no fishos have been lucky enough to snag the top prize.

Competition organisers say that will not be the case this season, promising the million dollar jackpot will “definitely” be given away.

SportsBet NT operations and partnerships manager Thijs Bors said while he hoped the million dollar fish would be caught naturally, organisers had a “plan” to make one lucky fisho a millionaire if it was not caught.

“We’re not going to reveal yet how that’s going to happen for the integrity of competition, we’ll leave that to closer to the date,” he said.

Major Events Minister Paul Kirby (middle) and Sportsbet manager Thijs Bors (right) handed over a major prize to Darwin local Nicole Soltesz when she won a $20,000 barra in Season 8. Picture: Floss Adams.

“Watch over the competition and we’ll update everyone throughout the season.

“(But) there has never been a better time to fish the Territory and remember, the more you get out on the water, the greater your chances.

“Nowhere else on earth can you throw in a line and reel in a million bucks.”

Major Events Minister Paul Kirby said last year’s season was the biggest on record.

“We know that it bought around $70m into the Top End, and a third of that is money from outside of the Top End,” he said.

“It’s a really exciting time for fishos … we’ve (also) got a 100 of the $10,000 fishes that will be distributed.”

Ben Jones Bynoe Barra for Million Dollar Fish

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the competition was “huge” for the Territory economy.

“It’s not just interstaters is coming in, staying in our hotels, going out on charters, buying all those lures and the fishing paraphernalia that goes with it – it’s the locals as well,” she said.

“Not only is MDF a massive boost to the Territory economy, it is a fun, family-friendly competition for Territorians and tourists alike.”

Registrations open on Friday before the season kicks off on October 1, running until the end of March next year.

To register head to milliondollarfish.com.au