The barra are really biting for Million Dollar Fish, with one lucky angler hooking the first catch of the season within hours of Season 9 starting.
Zain Lopez was fishing at Stokes Hill Wharf by the Darwin CBD at 3am on 1 October 2023 when he hooked himself a red-tagged barra worth $10,000. Season 9 runs from 1 October 2023 to 31 March 2024. Zain was lucky he remembered to register for Season 9 just hours before he caught his lucky catch, as anglers must be registered to claim any cash.
Million Dollar Fish, underwritten by SportsBet, offers anglers the chance to bag $10,000 or become a millionaire by simply wetting a line and catching a red-tagged barra, and with the million guaranteed to be reeled in this year there’s never been a better reason to fish the Top End. Tagged fish have been released across the Territory’s main fishing regions – Darwin, Kakadu, Tiwi Islands, Arnhem Land and Katherine.
Each time a $10,000 barra is caught, the lucky fisho can donate an additional $1,000 to a Million Dollar Fish Season 9 Official Charity Partner. A further $10,000 will be donated to an Official Charity Partner when a Million Dollar Fish is reeled in. Official Charity Partners are Cancer Council NT, Shoreline, Starlight Children’s Foundation Darwin Star Ball and for the first time, Riding for the Disabled Association Top End. Zain chose Starlight.
Million Dollar Fish is delivered by Northern Territory Major Events Company (NTMEC) on behalf of the Northern Territory Government. Visit to find out more.
Quotes from NTMEC CEO Suzana Bishop:
“Congratulations to Zain for kicking things off with his $10,000 fish! This is the first Season 9 barra caught, and we can expect to see many more over the coming months.
“Last season we had 20 caught, and we’re off to a great start for Season 9 to be even bigger. And of course, we’ll be awarding someone a million dollars before the end of the season. There has never been a better time to hit the water and wet a line in the Top End.
“Million Dollar Fish is a massive catch for the Territory, with independent research showing Season 8 bagged a record-breaking $70.8 million total expenditure stimulus, and 33.3 percent of that was new money. This is incredible news and shows the value the competition brings to our economy.”
Quotes from SportsBet NT Operations and Partnerships Manager Thijs Bors:
“There are still 99 $10,000 fish swimming around out there, plus 11 chances to land a fish worth a million dollars.
“This is the greatest fishing comp in Australia, if not the world, and with the million guaranteed to be hooked this year, you’d be mad not to register and fish the Top End.”
Quotes from winning fisho Zain Lopez:
“I’ve fished that spot so many times and couldn’t believe it when I reeled in a barra with a red tag! My partner and I were speechless. I caught the fish on my second cast. I go fishing most weekends when I can, and there is even more incentive and motivation to get out and wet a line now thanks to Million Dollar Fish. I’ll keep on fishing for more red-tagged barra!”
Quotes from Starlight Children’s Foundation ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Events Manager Danielle White:
“On behalf of Starlight I’d like to thank Zain for this donation. The support of our community is so important, and to be involved with something like Million Dollar Fish is fantastic for helping us deliver happiness to sick children in the Territory.”
Image: Zain Lopez with his winning $10,000 barra
