Darwin local Matthew Maurice has become the second person in 12 years to catch the $1 million tagged barramundi in the NT’s Million Dollar Fish competition.

Mr Maurice, 26, was fishing late at night with his younger brother at Corroboree Billabong when he landed the prized 80-centimetre barramundi. Within seconds of hooking the fish, the brothers recognised the distinctive bright red “Season 12” tag, confirming their win.

But it wasn’t until he was brought into a room with Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro and government camera crews at some point over the weekend that he learned he had won $1 million, when she personally delivered the news, saying, “I’m about to give you the best news of your life.”

Mr Maurice is only the second person to win the top prize in Australia’s richest fishing competition. The first winner, Katherine’s Keegan Payne, caught the Season 9 million dollar fish in April 2024, just before that season ended.

“Congratulations to Matthew on landing the catch of a lifetime and becoming just the second person in Million Dollar Fish history to reel in the $1 million Barra. It’s an extraordinary moment for Matthew, his family and for the Territory,” Ms Finocchiaro said in a statement that was issued about the win at 6am Sunday morning.

“What started as a chilled night out with his brother at Corroboree Billabong has turned into a life-changing story that captures everything people love about the Territory – adventure, mateship and the thrill that can come from throwing in a line.”

Mr Maurice said that sharing the catch with his brother made it even more special, as they rarely see each other due to distance.

He said his life changed when an 80cm barramundi took the lure and flashed a bright red tag as it jumped. As a regular Million Dollar Fish participant, Mr Maurice said he was filled with adrenaline and his legs shook when he saw the “Season 12″ tag.

“I saw the fish jump within the first 10 seconds and spotted a bright red tag hanging out of it. It was probably the most stressful two minutes of my life,” he said.

“I’m just happy to catch fish. I can’t believe I caught a million dollars’ worth of fish. Any barra is a good barra, especially the million-dollar one.

“It’s surreal. I feel like I’m in a dream. I don’t think I should be allowed to touch the money. Someone else might need to look after it for me. But I’ll probably be smart with it, buy a house, pay off anything I need to pay off, and then treat myself a little bit.”

With the $1 million barramundi now caught and no more million-dollar fish left in Territory waters, anglers can still compete for 96 red-tagged barramundi worth $10,000 each until the season ends in March next year.

Million Dollar Fish has awarded over $2.47 million in prize money in the 12 years the program has operated. The event was designed to draw anglers from around Australia to the Northern Territory, boosting tourism and highlighting the region’s top fishing spots.

The government did not say in the statement announcing the win how many people from interstate have come to the NT to dip their lines in the competition.

“As the major sponsor of Million Dollar Fish, we’re absolutely thrilled that Australia’s most sought-after fish has been caught again,” Sportsbet CEO Doug Brown said.

“Sportsbet brings excitement to life for our customers every day and it doesn’t get more exciting than seeing another Territorian take home the big prize in Season 12 of the world’s best fishing competition.”

Tourism and Events NT chief executive Suzana Bishop said the Million Dollar Fish competition continues to inspire anglers across Australia and boost tourism in the region, although she did not provide any annual numbers or breakdowns of figures.

“To have only the second million-dollar fish caught in the competition’s 12-year history is a truly remarkable moment. It highlights the excitement, anticipation and life-changing opportunities that make Million Dollar Fish Australia’s richest and most iconic fishing competition,” she said.

“Beyond the prize money, Million Dollar Fish showcases the Northern Territory’s world-class fishing, drives visitation from around the country and creates unforgettable stories that stay with people for a lifetime.”

In addition to the $1 million prize to Mr Maurice, $10,000 will be donated to the official charity partner, Surf Life Saving NT. Since the competition began, Million Dollar Fish has contributed over $133,000 to Territory charities, the government said.