1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,560 Speaker 1: Now the million dollar Fish comp It has been going 2 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: off five red tagged barre Mundy already caught by lucky 3 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 1: fishohs who've become ten thousand dollars richer. Now my next guest. 4 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:16,799 Speaker 1: He is a talented footballer. He coaches one of the 5 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 1: Tar's junior football teams. He's an absolute gun runner, and 6 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:24,080 Speaker 1: it turns out he's quite the fisherman as well. James 7 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 1: Arata joins me in the studio. James, good morning. 8 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 2: Thanks Katie, good morning. 9 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 1: I've given you a bump up there, mate. I see 10 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:35,839 Speaker 1: you running around everywhere. Well, certainly used to see you 11 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:38,519 Speaker 1: running around quite a bit, but I did not know 12 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:41,319 Speaker 1: that you're a very keen fisherman and bloody good at 13 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:42,600 Speaker 1: it by the sounds of things. 14 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:45,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, I've got quite a few hobbies, I must say. 15 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:47,919 Speaker 3: I wouldn't say I'm the best, but I do love 16 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:49,639 Speaker 3: getting out and having a fish when I can. 17 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:53,239 Speaker 1: Yeah, I love it. So, mate, tell me what happened 18 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 1: when you're hooked onto this ten thousand dollar barrow. Where 19 00:00:57,160 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 1: were you? So? 20 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 3: I was just down at mary Bridge Lagoon, just off 21 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 3: the Arnham Highway. And yeah, so it was last Tuesday 22 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 3: evening under the full moon, and I thought, you know, 23 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 3: I better get out after work and have a fish 24 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 3: under the full moon, just to really soak up the atmosphere, 25 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 3: and you know, you never know, catch a few barrow. 26 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:17,839 Speaker 3: So yeah, I went down there and sort of launched 27 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 3: the boat at maybe six pm and yeah, fished over 28 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:24,480 Speaker 3: the sunset and into the night, and yeah, sure enough, 29 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:26,120 Speaker 3: one of the barrow I caught ended up having a 30 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 3: red tag in it. 31 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:29,039 Speaker 1: What did you think as you pulled it up? Like, 32 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 1: obviously you're pretty happy you caught a barrow, but what 33 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:33,960 Speaker 1: did you think then when you're like, oh, my goodness, 34 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 1: it seems tagged. 35 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:36,479 Speaker 2: Yeah. 36 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 3: So it was about midway through the fight. So I 37 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 3: was actually, randomly enough fishing right in front of the 38 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 3: boat ramp. So I've been working an area that was 39 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 3: close to the boat ramp, and I was like, all right, 40 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 3: I'll go back to the boat ramp, have a fish, 41 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 3: and then if nothing, I'll go home. And yeah, sure enough, 42 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 3: this fish sort of swam through and I hooked it, 43 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 3: and about midway through the fight it jumped and I 44 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 3: turned the head torch on and realized, oh no, this 45 00:01:58,360 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 3: has got a red. 46 00:01:59,000 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 2: Tag in it. 47 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 1: Do not lose it. 48 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, So you know, instant panic stations, and you know, 49 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 3: being on your own, you sort of just start freaking 50 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 3: out because, oh my god, what am I going to do? 51 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 3: How am I gonna net this? How I'm going to 52 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 3: get this in the boat? What's going to happen? 53 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 2: Am I going to lose this? Is anyone going to 54 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 2: believe me if I lose this? 55 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 1: You know? 56 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:17,639 Speaker 3: So everything was racing through my head, and you know, 57 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:19,800 Speaker 3: it was it was quite a good fish. So the 58 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:22,079 Speaker 3: fight was pretty hectic, like, you know, it ran around 59 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 3: the boat a few times, was very acrobatic, and every 60 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 3: time it jumped, you know, this red tag just glimmering 61 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 3: in the light and I'm going nearly pulling my hair out, 62 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 3: you know, praying this thing doesn't get off the line. 63 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:36,360 Speaker 3: And yeah, sure enough, after maybe a nervous five to 64 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 3: ten minutes, I ended up getting it in the net 65 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 3: and being like, oh my god, it's happened. 66 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 2: Oh I got it? 67 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 1: Now? What did you do next week? You Like, I 68 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 1: just got to get like, I've got to get off 69 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:47,400 Speaker 1: this boat. I've got to ring somebody. What am I 70 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 1: going to take a photo so that everybody believes that 71 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 1: it's actually happened, just in case something goes wrong at 72 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 1: this point. 73 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 2: So I was in pure shock, so I don't know. 74 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 3: I was just like so euphoric that I laid down 75 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 3: on the floor of the boat next the fish, turn 76 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:03,679 Speaker 3: the music all the way up and just blast in 77 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:05,960 Speaker 3: music and laid on the floor of the boat for 78 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 3: a good twenty minutes just being like, did this just happen? 79 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:10,639 Speaker 2: Am I in a dream? What's going on? 80 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 3: I need to get up and start taking photos of 81 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 3: this thing, but just sitting down and going I can't 82 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:17,960 Speaker 3: move just right now. I just need to soak this 83 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 3: up because you know, when you first get a red tag, 84 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:21,959 Speaker 3: you're not sure if it's going to be ten k 85 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:24,519 Speaker 3: a million, So you're sort of just going, oh my god, 86 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:26,360 Speaker 3: is this a million dollars sitting in my boat? 87 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:29,520 Speaker 1: I did not even think of that. So when do 88 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 1: you find out how much it's worth? You know, whether 89 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 1: it's a million dollar fish or a ten thousand dollars one. 90 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 3: So after you send all the photos through and they 91 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:40,120 Speaker 3: do the final verifications, that's when they let. 92 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 2: You know what it is. 93 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:43,280 Speaker 3: So it's like a nervous weight for a bit, you know, 94 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 3: because you're not knowing. You're like, oh my god, is 95 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 3: this ten k's it's a million regardless. You're happy, but 96 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 3: at the same time you're like, imagine. 97 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 1: Oh, my life would change forever. 98 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 2: I was planning that Europe trip. 99 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 1: I bet you were. What are you going to do 100 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: with your ten thousand dollars? 101 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 3: So unfortunately, I've got to get a nie too much 102 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 3: running around nik for too much footy, and I'm going 103 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 3: to put it towards that. 104 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 2: So a bit boring, but I needed. 105 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 3: Hopefully I've got a little bit left over and I'll 106 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 3: probably put it towards getting some new lures and you know, 107 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:13,680 Speaker 3: maybe doing some stuff to my boat. 108 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:16,359 Speaker 1: Ye, no, which is fair enough. Now mate, you coach 109 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 1: the under seventeen tars boys, have you told them? I? 110 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:24,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, so they actually already knew so minute the media 111 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:26,159 Speaker 3: got released on Saturday morning. 112 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 2: Yeah. 113 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 3: I went down to the footy that day to help 114 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:32,040 Speaker 3: out with some senior teams, and yeah, all the under 115 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 3: seventeens boys that I coach were all coming out to 116 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:36,799 Speaker 3: me saying, oh my god, when are we going fishing? 117 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:38,839 Speaker 3: You know, let's ditch footy next week and let's go 118 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:39,480 Speaker 3: fishing instead. 119 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 2: And I'm like, no, no, no, no, no, we. 120 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 3: Have to play footy first. But yeah, it's been quite 121 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 3: the vibes. And at the school I work out as well, 122 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:50,239 Speaker 3: it's been quite a conversation started, well, so you work. 123 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:52,479 Speaker 1: At a school as well. I pumped, or all the 124 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 1: kids pumps. 125 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:54,359 Speaker 2: Oh, they're so stoked. 126 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:56,279 Speaker 3: And it's been like an awesome way in with some 127 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:59,040 Speaker 3: kids because you know, I'm out at Palmers and they 128 00:04:59,080 --> 00:04:59,919 Speaker 3: all love fishing. 129 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 2: So they've all been you know, can't believe you did that. 130 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:04,719 Speaker 2: Oh my god. And you know, just telling the story 131 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 2: over and over again. 132 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 1: How good. Hey. And it's good as well for the 133 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 1: kids to kind of realize sometimes and you're you know, 134 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 1: you're only a young bloke, but it's good for him 135 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 1: to realize that, you know, you're a young fellow, you're 136 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:17,159 Speaker 1: out fishing as well. It's that instant connection then with 137 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:18,680 Speaker 1: those with the young people. 138 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, exactly. And I think I'm promoting that positivity of 139 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,159 Speaker 3: fishing as well. You know, it's really it's really good 140 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 3: for the kids and they love it. 141 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 1: I agree with you. You know, we're talking about this 142 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 1: off air. I've got a twelve year old who spends 143 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 1: his whole weekend fishing. I just think when he's not 144 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:34,480 Speaker 1: playing footy or you know, doing other sports, and I 145 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:36,839 Speaker 1: just think it's such a positive thing for our young people. 146 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 1: You're outdoors, you're enjoying the sunset, you're enjoying you know, 147 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 1: the sunrise. It's such a great thing to be out 148 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 1: doing and and you know, in your case, you might 149 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:48,160 Speaker 1: even make ten grand doing it. 150 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly. 151 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 3: It's such a bonus because you know, you don't go 152 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 3: out fishing to catch the red tag. You're out fishing 153 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:56,600 Speaker 3: to enjoy it and catch fish, and you know, soak 154 00:05:56,680 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 3: up what fishing's about. But yeah, catching a red tag 155 00:05:59,279 --> 00:06:00,919 Speaker 3: just all that much of a bonus. 156 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 2: You're like, oh my god, you know sport. 157 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 1: On James, tell me did you measure that barrew? Oh, 158 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:07,479 Speaker 1: we are too excited. 159 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:09,880 Speaker 3: Well, after I laid in the boat for twenty minutes, 160 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:13,320 Speaker 3: I eventually got myself up and was very shaky, so 161 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 3: I took a lot of blurry photos, and being on 162 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:18,480 Speaker 3: your own you have to get really good at self timing. Yeah, 163 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 3: so I had the self time rout and yeah, and 164 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:23,599 Speaker 3: on the measuring tape I ended up getting a few. 165 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:26,359 Speaker 3: The poor fish was long gone by then, so he 166 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 3: wasn't jumping around much, but yeah he got a few. 167 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:31,360 Speaker 1: How big was he he. 168 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:35,040 Speaker 3: Was eighty so I took two measurements eighty six or 169 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 3: eighty nine, I'm. 170 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:36,920 Speaker 2: Not too sure either way. 171 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:38,880 Speaker 1: He had ten thousand dollars attached to him. 172 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly, That's all that mattered, really, wasn't it. Exactly? 173 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:45,360 Speaker 1: That's right mate. When he gone back out on the water, 174 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:47,919 Speaker 1: when's the next when's the next fishing opportunity? 175 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 3: So with footy, we've got to buy next weekend, so 176 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:54,239 Speaker 3: I'm on that weekend off to rule out for fishing solely. 177 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, Are you worried that everybody's going to be rocking 178 00:06:57,080 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 1: up to your spot now where you went and caught 179 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 1: the ten thousand dollars barrel? Yes? 180 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 2: And no. 181 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:03,840 Speaker 3: I think like it's a pretty known spot and there 182 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 3: has been other red tag fish court there recently, like 183 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 3: in this year, so yeah, I guess it might be 184 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 3: a bit busier, but you know, everyone's out there to 185 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 3: enjoy it and have good fun, so I don't think 186 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 3: that's an issue. 187 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:15,720 Speaker 2: I think it's all the. 188 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 1: Game, that's exactly right, James. What music were you listening 189 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 1: to after you caught that fish? Was it a song 190 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 1: that our listeners would know or were you. 191 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 2: There was two songs that were on repeat. 192 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 3: So the first time definitely it was case signed by 193 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 3: Chisel Blasting, and then the second one's a bit niche 194 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:34,640 Speaker 3: it was methaw Eth. 195 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 2: Or Twilight Driving. 196 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 3: And I've just been soaking those two songs up the 197 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 3: last week. 198 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 1: Oh mate, good on you, I reckon. It's a wonderful 199 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 1: territory story. 200 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 2: You know. 201 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 1: I love like I love the million dollar fish comp 202 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 1: and I love the way that it puts the Northern 203 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 1: Territory on the national stage right fishing. And for some 204 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 1: you know, for some people around Australia, they they look 205 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: at us and know that it's a wonderful place to 206 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 1: go for a fish. But it is just you know, 207 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 1: it really makes people go, I get to the Northern Territory, 208 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 1: I want to catch the million dollar fish or a 209 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 1: ten thousand dollar fish. 210 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 3: And yeah, I think it's so awesome how accessible it 211 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 3: is as well. I've caught that fish even though I 212 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 3: was in a boat. I caught it twenty meters off 213 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 3: the boat ramp. So not to say that if you 214 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 3: didn't own a boat, you could have still went down 215 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 3: to the boat ramp. 216 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, exact fish. 217 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, well mate, you know where my son's going to 218 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:23,760 Speaker 1: expect to go on the weekend. Well make him listen 219 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: to your interview the summer Love Oh James. Lovely to 220 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 1: catch up with you, mate, and no doubt I'll see 221 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:32,199 Speaker 1: you around, either at footy or out for a rum 222 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 1: once you've had your knee surgery. Most definitely thanks good stuff, 223 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 1: thank you, thanks so much for joining us this morning.