"This is crazy": Teenager goes fishing and emerges a millionaire
A 19-year-old fisherman has reeled in a million-dollar barramundi as part of a years long fishing competition.
Keegan Payne, a self proclaimed "mad keen" fisherman, caught the fish that had been tagged as part of a nine year long fishing competition in the Katherine River.
When the teenager from the Norther Territory was told that he had taken home the prize, he said he planned to use his winnings to help his parents pay off their home loans.
"This is crazy for us, we're a big family, there's eight of us. This is more money than we could ever ask for. This is just great," Payne said.
"It means so much. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. I'm happy, really happy."
"I can buy what I want, maybe help Dad and Mum out with the home loans," he said.
Payne was on a fishing trip with family and a friend at the Katherine River when he caught the prized barramundi, and quickly made a call to the hotline for the competition.
The organisers confirmed he had caught the million-dollar fish, and invited him and his family to collect the prize.
The competition has been running since 2015, but until now, nobody had reeled in one of the million-dollar barramundi.
Every season, more than a hundred fish tagged with special markings are released in waterways across the Northern Territory, and while most of the fish are worth $10,000, some are worth the major prize of $1 million.
Keegan chose charity partner Cancer Council NT to receive $10,000 from Sportsbet, a sponsor of the competition.
NT Major Events Company chief executive Suzana Bishop said organisers were "so happy and excited for Keegan".
"We guaranteed a winner this season and we're delighted to see the prize go off," said Sportsbet chief executive Barni Evans.
Image credits: Million Dollar Fish