A Top End teenager has reeled in the most lucrative catch in Australia, winning the Northern Territory’s Million Dollar Fish competition.
For the first time in the competition’s nine year history, the NT government has announced that a territory angler has caught the prized tagged barramundi.
Keegan Payne, a 19-year-old from the rural town of Katherine, today becomes the NT’s newest millionaire, after snagging the million dollar fish on the Katherine River.
The NT government has released a statement which said Mr Payne was on a fishing trip with family members early on Sunday morning, when he reeled in the barra bounty.
He called the competition’s hotline to alert the world to his win at 1am that morning.
“This is crazy for us. We’re a big family, there’s eight of us, this is more money than we could ever ask for,” Mr Payne said in the statement.
“It means so much. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me.
“I’m happy, really happy.
“I can buy what I want, maybe help dad and mum out with the home loans.”
The announcement comes on the last day of the annual competition for 2024.
Earlier this year the NT government announced it would guarantee a winner to the competition this season, but didn’t reveal exactly how that would happen.
The competition, which is paid out by sports gambling company SportsBet, was set up in a bid to lure tourists and fishers to the NT Top End in the quieter wet season months.
As well as the million dollar fish, eight tagged barramundi worth $10,000 each have also been snagged this season.
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