Million Dollar Fish makes history in Season 10 opening week

A record number of barramundi have been caught in the opening week of Season 10 of the Million Dollar Fish. Find out where fishos have had success.

Nathaniel Chambers

3 min read

October 10, 2024 - 5:30AM

Million Dollar Fish has made history with a record breaking number of fishos making catches in the opening week of Season 10.

Northern Territory

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Million Dollar Fish Season 10 is off to a record-breaking start with nine red-tagged barra already pulled in after just one week of competition.

The whopping nine barramundi caught has passed the previous record opening week for Season 6, and matches the total number of $10k fish caught for all of Season 9.

Barramundi have been caught across the Top End from the Daly River and East Alligator River to Corroboree Billagong and McArthur River Crossing.

Among them are former winner Yo Thu Yar who caught a massive 90cm barramundi on October 3 at the same Daly River Crossing he reeled in a winner in Season 8.

It’s a location that has proven a winner for Season 10 catches with Antonios Mougros, De Lusy and Theofilis Vrondos also reeling in catches there.

Meanwhile, Noah Faull hooked a 70cm barra after several hours fishing on the East Alligator River with a good mate.

After flicking fizzers the barra took the bite and put on a show, jumping into the air, before Noah bagged the catch. He will put the winnings toward his first overseas holiday.

“It (the barra) was having a few jumps out of the water, it was sick as, it put up a good little fight,” Mr Faull said.

Million Dollar Fish Season 10 winner Noah Faull. Picture: Contributed.

“I’m going to pay off my (car) loan, put it into my HiLux and get a little hunting rig up and going. I’ll be sorted, no more debt. I’ve got Bali coming up too, it’s my first time going overseas, I’m keen as.”

“Just get out there have a crack, you can’t catch fish if you haven’t a got a line in the water. You gotta be in it to win it.”

Lydia Hebb hooked her red-tagged fish at Corroboree Billabong on October 5, hitting the water as preparation for a fishing comp she got more than she bargained for after the 66cm fish took the lure.

She hopes to spend a bit of the winnings on fishing and boating gear, support herself as she does a university placement and put some into savings.

“It was pretty good fishing. There were a few fish that we saw coming through on the sounder, and Lachie (her partner) had caught a few fish,” she said.

Million Dollar Fish Season 10 winner Lydia Hebb. Picture: Contributed.

“I saw one come through, just flicked at it, and somehow landed straight in front of its nose, and it just boofed it straight away.

“It was a good fight, and it jumped right at the boat and we saw the tag in the light, ‘I was like, Lachie quickly net this fish’.”

Jaida Anderson, reeled in her 72cm fish at McArthur River Crossing, Borroloola on October 3 and due to her remote location, her tag was flown to Darwin on an Airnorth plane to be verified.

“We were late night fishing and we just reeled in a barra and we didn’t know it had a tag, then was saw it, and then got all excited.”

“That was just a lucky night for us.”

Million Dollar Fish Season 10 winner Jaida Anderson. Picture: Contributed.

There are still 90 barramundi with $10,000 tags while 10 fish carry a tag worth a million bucks, made up of nine fish from Season 9 and one from Season 10.

NT Major Events Company acting chief executive Trevor Cox said the season was off to a cracking start.

“Territory fishing is unparalleled, and this bumper week of catches proves there’s no better place to catch yourself a bucket list barra than in the pristine waters of the NT,” he said.

“Make sure you book your trip now to the NT, and register, to be a part of the Million Dollar Fish Season 10.”

Season 10 of the Million Dollar Fish competition runs from October 1 to March 31, to claim any prize money you must be registered at www.milliondollarfish.com.au.