Somewhere in slow-moving waters around the Northern Territory, there’s a giant, tagged barramundi blissfully unaware that it’s worth a cool million dollars.
For the fisher folk that flock for the thrill of the chase, the annual Million Dollar Fish competition adds a million extra reasons to fish here … but, really, diehard anglers only need one – the barra!
“The Million Dollar Fish competition is a great initiative that has helped to boost the NT’s reputation as the best place in the world to stay, play and fish and lure more visitors to the Territory,” Acting Minister for Tourism and Culture, Dale Wakefield said.
“With 2.5 months of competition to go and the Million Dollar Fish still on the loose, Tourism NT has released the top three Top End Hot Spots based on confirmed catches across all three seasons.”
Corroboree Billabong is part of the Mary River wetland system and has remained a consistent hot spot across all three seasons.
Billabong fishing is one of the most visually stunning fishing experiences in the Top End, offering waterlily-lined pools of water teeming with birds and, of course, fish. These landlocked parcels of fishing nirvana are not as dependent on weather or tide as some of the other fishing options available in the Territory and can be accessed nearly year round.
Darwin Harbour’s mangrove lined estuary. It’s five times the area of Sydney Harbour and contains a world class fishery right on the doorstep of the capital, so it’s not surprising it makes the list. If you’re chasing barra, try the estuaries and mangroves surrounding the Harbour or the tidal creeks of Shoal Bay and Bynoe Harbour.
And, as an added bonus, you get million dollar views of Darwin and surrounds for free.
Daly River, home to The Barra Classic and Barra National Fishing competitions; was the top fishing hot spot for Season two; and already this year two $10,000 barra have been caught in it’s waters. It has also proven to be the ‘hot spot’ of the competition for Darwin local George Voukolus, who bagged $10,000 wins in both Season Two and Season Three.
Season three of the Million Dollar Fish competition runs from 1 October 2017 until the end of February 2018 and participants must register online at www.milliondollarfish.com.au for their chance to win a prized barra or one of the sponsors’ prizes.
For information on NT fishing regulations and best practice catch and release methods download the free Northern Territory (NT) Fishing Mate app on your smart phone.
Attachment: Locations of fish caught in each season to date.
Media contact: Trish
Grimshaw 0401 119 242