Just a quick note to let you know the sixth $10,000 tagged barramundi has been caught in Season 9 of the Northern Territory’s Million Dollar Fish competition by fisherman James McWilliam. James, who luckily announced his catch an hour before the competition’s ‘Double the Dough’ promotion ended, walked away with a whopping $20,000.

Last weekend, the competition ran its ‘Double the Dough’ promotion, which meant the first angler to reel in a $10k fish had their prize doubled to $20,000 and James was the lucky fisherman to catch one during this time.

A member of Defence, James was on a day fishing trip with mates in Bynoe Harbour near Crab Claw Island Resort when he reeled in his lucrative 82cm barramundi sporting a red tag worth $20,000 at lunchtime on Sunday, 19 November.

Each time a fisho catches a $10,000 barra, they can donate an extra $1,000 to the Million Dollar Fish charity of their choice. The charity money was doubled for this fish, and James decided to give the $2,000 to Starlight Children’s Foundation, dedicated to brightening the lives of seriously ill children, teenagers and their families across Australia.

Season 9 will run till 31 March 2024, with 11 barra worth a million and 94 barra worth $10,000 still swimming in the Top End’s pristine waters waiting to be caught.  So far, the competition has given away $70,000 in prize money.

The competition guarantees a millionaire this season, with more initiatives to be announced in upcoming months.

Quotes from $10k winner, James McWilliam:

  • “My mates at work said they’d take me out on a fishing trip as I’d just got a new posting to Sydney, and it’s always been on my bucket list to catch a barra.”
  • “We weren’t having that much luck and two of my mates were making sandwiches when I snagged the barra. I could tell he was big and my mates coached me as I reeled it in. We didn’t see the red-tag until it was in the boat and we all went crazy. I was stoked. I’m still shaking.”
  • “We decided to keep on fishing that afternoon and by the time we got back the tide was low, so we had to wait. We didn’t get back to Darwin until late, and I was about to go to bed when I thought I better ring the Million Dollar Fish line.”
  • “I’m so glad I did. I didn’t realise it was Double the Dough. I’m going to share my winnings with my mates, my mum and probably buy myself a new rod and some fishing gear.”