A Northern Territory teenager whose family has fallen on hard times in recent years has become the first winner of a huge Australian fishing prize.
Keegan Payne thought the 27-inch barramundi he picked up from the Katherine River on Sunday would make a good meal for his family.
He had no idea what a very special fish it was, valued at $1 million for whoever caught it, in a prize that had never been won before.
The keen Katherine fisherman was fishing with his sister and some mates on Sunday morning when he landed the best bite of his life.
“We weren’t actually expecting a labeled stick at the time, until my little sister asked what was in the fish,” Payne said.
Keegan Payne (pictured) thought the 67cm barramundi he picked up from the Katherine River on Sunday would make a good meal for his family.
I had no idea what a very special fish it was, valued at $1 million (pictured) for whoever caught it, in a prize that had never been won before during the competition’s nine seasons.
When he realized it was tagged and that tag was worth a million dollars, the 19-year-old said he and his sister were “freaking out.”
“We almost crashed the boat coming back to the boat ramp.”
Her sister Addyson, 11, was the first to see the colored tag worth a magical million.
“We were sitting and my brother’s staff bowed,” he said to the ABC.
‘He thought it was a catfish, but it was a rod.
‘And they didn’t see the label, but I did, and I said; “What’s that sticking out of there?”
And Keegan turned it around and said, “No way, no way.”
“He was jumping and screaming.”
His brother said: “It was a pretty good fight, it didn’t take more than 10 seconds.”
Payne is the first person to win the top prize in the Northern Territory’s annual Million Dollar Fish competition, which is in its ninth season.
He said the victory changes the lives of his family, who suffered the tragic death of one of his brothers in an accident four years ago.
“This is crazy for us, we are a big family, there are eight of us, this is more money than we could ask for.” “This is just great,” the teen said.
“The whole family was shocked; everyone is proud of me,” he said.
“It’s hard enough for us right now with money, but now with a million dollars, we don’t have to complain about it.”
He added that “I can buy whatever I want, maybe help mom and dad with the mortgage loans,” and said the family can now afford to take a vacation and is planning a trip to the United States.
Payne also plans to buy a new boat and car this week.
The NT Government said it would ensure there would be a winner of the competition, which was set up to attract tourists to the Top End in the off-season, this year, but did not reveal exactly how it would happen.
Payne said his family (pictured) can now afford to take a holiday and is planning a trip to the United States.
The very grateful and humble teenager was a worthy recipient of the enormous award.
When asked what the best thing about fishing in the Northern Territory was, he replied: “You can catch a million-dollar barra.”
The Cancer Council also received a check for $10,000 thanks to the teenager choosing it as his charity of choice.
