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A Territory angler has landed the ultimate New Year surprise, winning an extra $30,000 after catching the largest red-tagged $10,000 barramundi for December as part of Million Dollar Fish Season 11’s Reel of Fortune ‘Size Matters’ promotion.
Chloe Frost hooked the winning 76cm barramundi on Sunday, 21 December, while fishing on a gifted charter at Charles Point on the Cox Peninsula. The catch turned what was meant to be a relaxed day on the water into a life-changing moment.
Chloe was aboard an Offshore Boats charter—a trip generously gifted by a family friend—when she reeled in what she originally thought was a jewfish.
“I was screaming, like, 'pull it in, pull it in!' And then I was like, 'No, that's not a red tag. There's no way.' When it came in and we realised it actually was a tag, there was just silence on the boat," Chloe said.
“I was shaking; the skipper was shaking. Everyone was very quiet for about an hour afterwards until we worked it out. We were like, 'Wait, this has actually just happened.' We still had to sit on the boat until 3:30 pm that afternoon, so it was a long day!”
The wait didn’t end there. After returning to shore, Chloe had to wait until the end of December to find out if her catch remained the largest of the month to secure the ‘Size Matters’ bonus of $30,000.
“It’s been a long few weeks. I've had the most restless sleep because I was so excited to find out. I’ve been refreshing the Facebook page multiple times a day—I'm so excited to go back to being normal and being able to concentrate at work!”
Chloe had registered for Season 11 early. Although she was sceptical that it could happen to her, she was prepared and knew the competition details well.
“I’m a bit organised, so I registered as soon as they opened. I even screenshotted the post on what to do if you catch a tag. I thought my partner would be the one to catch one, but I wanted to have the info ready on my phone just in case we were out of service. I’d registered ages ago and had the steps ready, so I knew exactly what to do.”
Regarding the total $40,000 win, Chloe said she was in shock and found it "crazy" to think she went out for a day with family and friends and came ashore with more than just a fish.
“It’s life-changing, really. I think I will put the money towards settling down in Darwin. We’d love to have a family up here and stay for as long as possible. We’ve been here for two years, and we just love it. We’ll be here for a while.”
January Million Dollar Fish Reel of Fortune: Everyday Heroes
The excitement continues in January with the Everyday Heroes activation. The first Defence or Emergency Services employee to catch a Season 11 tagged $10k barramundi in January will score an extra $5k, taking the total payout to $15k.
Each month, the Reel of Fortune wheel is spun to unlock a special bonus challenge, giving registered anglers another chance to reel in even more cash just for catching a Season 11 red-tagged barramundi. The next Reel of Fortune incentive will be announced on 1 February 2026.
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