A whirlwind few days on the water, with three $10,000 red-tagged barra landed back-to-back across the Top End. Locals Harold Mees and Barry Matthews have become the eighth and ninth winners of Million Dollar Fish Season 11.
Following Queenslander Kimberley Heming’s catch on October 23. In an exhilarating 72-hour streak, Harold landed his tagged barra on 24 October followed by Barry’s the next day.
Harold hooked his 65cm barra at Yellow Water after a morning spent chasing fish at the East Alligator. Harold hit the water early and quickly spotted a large barra. He cast a lure in front of it, and the fish took it almost instantly.
When the barra took the lure, Harold could see the red tag. “It was a very nerve-wracking fight, because I could see there was a tag in the fish, and I didn't want to lose it, because then I would believe that I'd lost a million dollars. So yes, very nerve wracking. I used that landing net. It took about five minutes,”
Unable to read the tag clearly without his glasses, Harold wasn’t sure if it was a current-season prize but immediately rang his daughter to share the news. The winnings will now fund what Harold calls “guilt free fishing trips.” Harold has been registered for every season and goes out once or twice a year specifically looking for a red-tagged barra.
The winning streak continued the following day when Barry reeled in a 99cm barra at Daly River, the second-largest fish ever caught.
Setting out for an afternoon on the Daly River, Barry first tried to get some live bait. After changing location, he caught a few eel-tailed catfish before his line took off around 8:30 pm. “I was fishing off the bank out the Daly Crossing, and it's pretty shallow on the sandbar there. So yeah, I didn't see it until he actually came in and I flipped him over myself.
“So then I saw the tag and told all me mates, be pretty quiet, keep calm and have a look at this and they all thought it was a metery, so did I but, um, yeah, it was one centimetre off, and made up for it having a red tag.”
Barry, also a registered angler for every season, isn't the first in his family to land a prize. “Yes, the other half’s caught one in season seven, and I got one in season 11. So, yeah, we've both caught one in the Daly River. So, yeah, the Daly's on,” said Barry.
The winnings he said will be put to practical use. “The boats due for a service, and cars due for a service, should chew up a little bit.”
To date, $90,000 in prize money has been awarded so far this season. The competition also benefits its official charity partner, Surf Life Saving NT, has also received $9000, with $1,000 donated for every $10,000 red-tagged fish caught.
There are still 91 red-tagged barramundi worth $10,000 swimming around the Top End waterways, and 11 carrying a $1 million tag – nine from Season 9, one from Season 10, and one from Season 11.
Season 11 of Million Dollar Fish runs until 31 March 2026.
&w=3840&q=80)
&w=3840&q=80)
