Skip to main content

March Madness delivers with $20,000 fish

Office of the Chief Minister

Lucky Leanyer resident David Ashfield has reeled in a red-tagged Million Dollar Fish worth a whopping $20,000 thanks to the competition’s special March Madness campaign.

To celebrate the final month of Season 6 of the competition, in February underwriter Sportsbet announced they will pay double the money to the first registered fisho who hooked a valid tagged fish this month.

David is that fisho, and takes home $20,000 instead of $10,000.  He caught the 65 centimetre fish on a trip to the Adelaide River with a mate. He’s been fishing the region for more than 30 years.

This is the 11th fish caught as part of Season 6, which has now paid out $115,000.

There are still 122 tagged barra to be caught, including seven fish with a $1 million tag. Once one of those fish is caught, the other six become $10,000 fish.

Season 6 ends on 31 March 2021, but those seven $1 million tagged fish remain active year-round. However, if you catch one after 31 March, you can only claim the prize money if you registered for the competition by the end of Season 6. Register now at www.milliondollarfish.com.au.

 

Quotes from Minister for Major Events, Natasha Fyles:

“The Million Dollar Fish competition delivers again, and what a result for David – a $10,000 fish worth double thanks to March Madness!

“This is a new initiative for the competition, which we continue to adapt and develop to ensure it delivers the best for Territorians, whether they catch a fish themselves or through the flow-on effects of more and more people hitting our waterways to try and snag a tagged fish.

“Registrations for Season 6 of the competition have exceeded expectations, which shows Million Dollar Fish continues to attract the attention of fishos, and even non-fishos, from around the country.

“The Territory Labor Government knows how important it is for the local tourism sector to continue to invest in this competition.”

 

Quotes from SportsBet External Affairs Manager Brad Fanning:

“We wanted the final month of Season 6 to go with a bang, and David has made sure that happened! As the major sponsor of Australia’s richest fishing competition, Sportsbet is thrilled to be awarding David not $10,000, but $20,000.

“David caught his fish not far from where it was released - others have been caught many kilometres away.

"You really never do know where a tagged fish might appear!”

 

Quotes from winning fisho David Ashfield:

“I’ve signed up for Million Dollar Fish every season since it began, and can’t believe I’ve actually caught a tagged fish. It was a pretty ordinary day out on the water with a mate. We dropped four or five fish each, which was a bit rough, and we were stoked to finally get a couple in the boat.

“It was a fairly standard fight to land the tagged fish, and while I was busy trying to remove the lure my mate suddenly started yelling ‘It’s got a red tag!’. I didn’t immediately understand what he was on about, then the penny dropped.

“Initially I thought I’d missed out by a week, as I was convinced the competition ended in February. But my mate disagreed, checked the website and confirmed the comp was still on. You beauty!”

--> --> --> --> --> -->