A night-time fishing trip near Darwin, Australia, turned into a life-changing event for 26-year-old Matthew Maurice when he caught a tagged barramundi worth AUS $1 million.
Maurice was on a boat with his brother on October 29 when he reeled in an 80cm barramundi. The fish was carrying a red tag, indicating it was one of the specially released prize winners in the Northern Territory's Million Dollar Fish competition.
This year's competition, which began on October 1, saw 100 fish tagged with AUS $10,000 prizes and one tagged with the AU $1 million jackpot. Maurice's catch was the latter.
He learned the significance of the red tag only after submitting his catch. Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro reportedly informed him of his winnings.
"I'm a millionaire, Mum," Maurice told his mother after celebrating the news with his brother.
Maurice becomes only the second angler in the competition's 12-year history to land the million-dollar prize. Keegan Payne, from Katherine, caught a similar jackpot fish three years prior.
Plans for the winnings include purchasing a house, paying off debts, and some personal luxuries. "I'm just happy to catch fish. I can't believe I caught a million dollars' worth of fish," Maurice said during a press conference. "I feel like I'm in a dream."
The Million Dollar Fish competition is sponsored by Tourism & Events Northern Territory and aims to promote the region's fishing opportunities. Since 2015, tagged barramundi have been released across five major fishing areas. The competition runs until March 31, with 96 remaining AUS $10,000 prize fish yet to be caught.