Fishy strategy to reel in travellers

Fancy fishing for one million dollars?

In an interesting new strategy to reel in travellers, Tourism Northern Territory has launched a million dollar fishing competition, with the goal to catch a Barramundi with a fat pricetag on its head.

This October, 76 iconic NT barramundi will be expertly tagged and released throughout Top End Waters, home of the best barra habitat in Australia. One of the barra will bear a $1 million prize tag, while the remaining 75 barramundi will net their catchers $10,000 each.

Tourism NT is taking this competition and using it to encourage bringing your mate along to fish up the big bucks.

According to new data from Million Dollar Fish, Aussies are will do a lot of things for one million dollars, but giving up our friends isn’t one of them, with 99% of Aussies claiming they’d rather turn down a million than spill a friend’s secrets or sell their family heirloom because they’re in the red.

With mateship meaning so much to the nation, Tourism NT is challenging Aussies to strengthen their friendship bonds even more by heading to the Northern Territory and fishing Top End waters for a barra worth a million dollars.

Aussie cricket icon and Million Dollar Fish campaign ambassador Matthew Hayden said, “The best memories are made when your mates come along for the ride. Why not hit the water with them in Top End, throw in a line and experience the thrill and challenge of pulling in a big barra.”

“As a Mate of the Territory, I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy a diverse range of fishing experiences in the Top End. From blue water fishing out of Darwin and the Tiwi Islands, to Billabong fishing at Kakadu, tropical sport fishing in East Arnhem Land and river fishing in Katherine – there’s plenty to see, do and catch in the NT.”

But you’ve got to be in it to win it, with the prize only be available to those who register for the event before August 31 2015.

Yellow Water Fishing operates from Cooinda, and also offers hotel accommodation at Cooinda Lodge and caravan and camping grounds, making it an ideal base for anglers chasing the $1 million top prize.

The fishing tours last three hours and are catered to both experienced and amateur anglers, who will fish this beautiful waterway with the guidance of an experienced fishing guide.

Guides provide all the fishing gear and will coach how to cast, retrieve and how to make a lure the most attractive to the Yellow Water Barramundi.

Even if anglers don’t hook the million dollar Barra, if their own catch is large enough, they have the option to have Cooinda’s chefs cook it up for dinner.

Yellow Water Fishing tours cost $150 per person the 3-hour cruise, but for the duration of the million dollar competition, Cooinda Lodge is offering a stay and save deal, with 20% off accommodation when visitors stay two nights or more.