A 26-year-old Australian man won A$1 million on Thursday after catching a red-tagged barramundi during a fishing trip with his younger brother in the Northern Territory.
asserted
man → win → Territory
Matthew Maurice, from Darwin, caught the fishat Corroboree Billabong, where it measured just over 80cm.
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it → catch → cm
He became only the second person to win the top prize in the Million Dollar Fish competition's 12-year history.
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He → become → history
Maurice had gone fishing with his younger brother, who was visiting from overseas.
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who → go → brother
The brothers had planned to spend a quiet evening together on the water.
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brothers → plan → water
Maurice, who regularly participates in the competition, was using a suspended jerkbait when a barramundi took his lure.
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barramundi → participate → lure
Within seconds, the fish jumped out of the water, revealing a bright red tag.
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fish → jump → tag
He realised that it could be one of the fish released as part of the competition.
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it → realise → competition
"I saw the fish jump within the first 10 seconds and spotted a bright red tag hanging out of it," Maurice said, according to ABC News Australia.
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Maurice → see → Australia
"There was about two minutes of absolute panic and then I don't actually remember netting it.
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I → be → it
It was probably the most stressful two minutes of my life," he added.
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he → add → life
The million-dollar win
The brothers were fishing at Corroboree Billabong, a popular fishing location east of Darwin.
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brothers → fish → Darwin
Maurice had been talking with his brother when the fish took his lure.
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fish → talk → lure
The red tag immediately caught his attention.
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tag → catch → attention
When he saw that it carried the words "Season 12", he became nervous.
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he → see → words
He later recalled that his legs were shaking as he tried to bring the fish in.
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he → recall → fish
People on a nearby houseboat also noticed and began cheering for the brothers.
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People → notice → brothers
After about two minutes, they managed to land the barramundi.
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they → manage → barramundi
The fish was the only barramundi carrying the A$1 million prize tag in the competition's 12th season.
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fish → carry → season
Its capture made Maurice the second person to claim the competition's biggest prize.
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Maurice → make → prize
Maurice said he was still struggling to believe what had happened.
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what → say → ?
I feel like I'm in a dream," he said.
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he → feel → dream
He added, "I'm just happy to catch fish.
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I → add → fish
I can't believe I caught a million dollars' worth of fish.
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I → believe → fish
After learning about his win, Maurice called his family to share the news.
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Maurice → learn → news
His first call was to his mother, who was outside a pub when she heard that her son had become a millionaire.
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son → hear → pub
"I'm a millionaire, Mum," he told her.
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he → tell → her
His mother replied, "I'm standing outside the pub and people are looking at me."
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people → reply → me
Maurice then asked her not to go back inside and tell everyone about the win.
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Maurice → ask → win
His father was equally surprised when he received the news.
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he → surprise → news
Maurice had to reassure him that he was serious about winning the money.
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he → have → money
"I swear Dad, I am dead-set serious right now," he said.
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he → swear → ?
His father responded, "I'm so proud of you," before adding, "You're set for life."
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You → respond → life
Maurice has already thought about how he might use the prize.
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he → think → prize
He said he wanted to make sensible decisions rather than spend the money immediately.
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he → say → money
"I don't think I should be allowed to touch the money.
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I → think → money
Someone else might need to look after it for me," he said.
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he → need → me
He added that he would probably buy a house, clear any outstanding payments and spend a small amount on himself.
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he → add → himself
Second A$1 million winner in 12 years
The Million Dollar Fish competition was introduced to encourage tourists and recreational fishers to visit Australia's Northern Territory, particularly during the quieter wet season.
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competition → introduce → season
The competition offers cash prizes for catching specially tagged barramundi.
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competition → offer → barramundi
…and 9 more, not listed.
The Aporia
