Northern Territory Major Events Company
Territorian Jamie McGuinness has become the first to reel in a tagged Barra at King Ash Bay as part of the Million Dollar Fish competition.
The $10,000 prize-tagged fish was caught on Tuesday, 5 November in the Davies Channel in the Gulf of Carpentaria while on an early morning fishing trip with one of his friends.
While the King Ash Bay resident’s 73cm catch was not one of the six red-tagged $1 million fish, Mr McGuinness said the money would be useful in paying off some of his son’s boarding school expenses.
In Season 5 of the Million Dollar Fish competition, 121 Barramundi have been tagged and released across the Territory including 100 carrying $10,000 cash prize tags and a further 20 purple-tagged Barra each worth $5,000 to be split between the angler and one of three Northern Territory-based charities.
For the first time in the competition, Season 5 has a staggering six prize-tagged Barramundi worth $1 million each, including a Season 5 tagged Million Dollar Fish and an additional five Barra with $1 million prize tags from Seasons 1 to 4.
Season 5 of the Million Dollar Fish competition runs from 1 October 2019 to 31 March 2020.
To be in the running to win a prized-tagged fish, register for the competition at
Participants will also go into the draw for more than $30,000 worth of prizes from Anaconda, Bigfish Gear, Engel, Shimano and Holidays of Australia and the World.
As noted by Northern Territory Major Events Company (NTMEC) General Manager Tim Watsford:
“It’s great that another one of the $10,000 prizes has gone off and I’d like to congratulate Jamie McGuinness of King Ash Bay for reeling in the red-tagged Barra.
“The Million Dollar Fish competition is a great initiative that has helped to boost the Northern Territory’s reputation as the best place in the world to stay, play and fish and lure more visitors to the Territory.
“There are still 98 $10,000 Barramundi, 20 $5,000 charity fish and six $1 million Barramundi swimming around Northern Territory waterways.
“I encourage all anglers and their families to come to the Territory and try their luck at catching the Million Dollar Fish.”
As noted by BetEasy Strategic Partnerships Manager Brad Fanning:
“It’s fantastic to see the first ever tagged fish caught in King Ash Bay in the Gulf of Carpentaria – it just goes to show you can catch prize-tagged fish all over the Northern Territory.
“BetEasy is proud to be a major sponsor of Million Dollar Fish, and I’d encourage locals and visitors alike to register for Season 5 of Australia’s greatest fishing competition.”
As noted by winning angler Jamie McGuinness of King Ash Bay:
“I was out fishing with a mate early Tuesday morning – it was a bit hard to tell it was a tagged fish as there were so many barnacles on the tag.
“My mate and I were pretty excited when we flipped it over and realised.
“To be honest, we couldn’t believe it – we’ve had a fair few Coronas to celebrate since Tuesday.
“My wife was actually at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday and won nothing – who would’ve thought my odds were better out fishing, than betting on the Cup.”
