Matthew Maurice didn't just catch a fish. He caught A$1 million. The 26-year-old Darwin resident landed an 80cm barramundi at Corroboree Billabong on Thursday, the first time in 12 years that a second person has claimed the competition's grand prize.
The moment was chaotic. Maurice, fishing with his younger brother who was visiting from overseas, felt the lure get taken while using a suspended jerkbait. Within 10 seconds, the fish jumped, revealing a bright red tag. "There was about two minutes of absolute panic and then I don't actually remember netting it," Maurice told ABC News Australia. "It was probably the most stressful two minutes of my life."
People on a nearby houseboat started cheering, sensing the magnitude of the catch. Maurice's legs were shaking as he fought to bring the fish in, the red tag clearly marked "Season 12." It was the only barramundi carrying the A$1 million prize in this season. Keegan Payne, a teenager from Katherine, had previously won the top prize in April 2024, making Maurice the second ever to claim the million-dollar award.
The win has already sparked family drama. Maurice called his mother, who was outside a pub. "I'm a millionaire, Mum," he said. She replied, "I'm standing outside the pub and people are looking at me." He told her not to go inside and shout it to everyone. His father was equally stunned, requiring assurance that the win was real. "You're set for life," his dad finally admitted.
The Northern Territory government launched the Million Dollar Fish competition to boost tourism during the wet season. Since its inception, the program has awarded over A$2.47 million in prizes. Maurice's catch also triggers an additional A$10,000 donation to Surf Life Saving NT, bringing total charitable contributions from the competition to over A$133,000.
The season isn't over. While the million-dollar fish is gone, 96 tagged barramundi worth A$10,000 each remain in the water. Fishermen across the Northern Territory have until March 31, 2027, to reel in their share of the cash.