April 30th 2024.
Keegan Payne, a 19-year-old from Kimberley, recently became the envy of fishermen everywhere when he reeled in a barramundi worth a whopping million dollars. But what makes this story even more remarkable is that it was actually his 11-year-old sister, Addyson, who spotted the small tag on the fish that led to their life-changing prize.
The small red plastic rod clipped to the fish's spine was the telltale sign that Keegan had landed the top prize in the Northern Territory's annual Million Dollar Fish competition. And as Keegan excitedly shared on 2GB, he woke up that morning feeling pretty good about his sudden change of fortune.
For Keegan, who works two jobs and lives with his family of eight, this win is truly life-changing. He plans to use the money to treat his family to an overseas holiday and put the rest in the bank. But for now, he's just enjoying the moment and trying to escape the media frenzy by going fishing.
Reflecting on the incredible turn of events, Keegan explained that he had only been fishing in the Katherine River for a couple of minutes before the barra bit. And it was all thanks to Addyson's keen eye that they even spotted the fish's unusual red tag.
But the excitement didn't end there. Keegan had to make a mad dash back to the boat ramp to keep the fish alive, as instructed by the competition organisers. And as they rushed back, Keegan couldn't help but think about how lucky they were that Addyson had spotted the tag.
The Million Dollar Fish competition, which has been running since 2015, releases over 100 tagged fish each year in various waterways around the Northern Territory. Some are worth $1 million while the rest are worth $10,000. And while many have tried, Keegan is the first to successfully catch a million-dollar fish.
As for Addyson, Keegan admits that she played a crucial role in their win, but he remains coy about whether she will receive a portion of the prize. For now, the family is just enjoying the excitement and looking forward to their future adventures. And as for Keegan, he's just happy to be able to go fishing without the media attention for a little while longer.
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