01/04/2026
❗BREAKING: Million dollar fish has been caught 🐟
The 2025-26 Million dollar barra has been captured by Victorian man Chester Laff.
Mr Laff drove to Darwin for a fishing tour in February but became trapped in the tropical north when rising flood waters, in rolling weather events, cut the Stuart Highway.
Driving the flood damaged road back to Victoria, just when he thought his “luck had run dry”, he caught the fish.
"Usually I come to the Top End to relax, but not on this trip.
"Couldn't drive back in time so I missed me missus b-day, well ex-missus now.
"Caught conjunctivitis after a game of footy with the lads.
"My p**s turned orange from drinking so much Gatorade because I didn't have a kettle to boil my water.
"Dropped a case of beers when I saw a croc outside the bottlo.
"Had to go to the bank of mum and dad to cover my petrol.
"Used up all my annual leave.
"Then driving back, less than an hour out of Katherine, I hit a pothole."
Mr Laff didn't have reception on his phone to call for road-side assistance so he decided to kill time by pulling out his fishing rod and practicing his flip and pitch technique in the potholes surrounding his bogged 4WD.
"I felt a pull on the rod and thought 'just my luck, I've lost my best lure to a smelly boot!'.
Katherine local Brent Withers was the first to spot Mr Laff on the Stuart Highway and pulled over to assist.
"I saw a man jumping up and down, screaming like a banshee, holding a fish over his head. I pulled over because I thought I was hallucinating and needed a rest." Mr Withers told the ABC.
"Look, I don't expect him to split the winnings, but he can pitch in for gas." He added.
When asked how he was going to spend the million dollar prize Mr Laff said -
"Oh this is absolutely life changing! It'll cover a good chunk of my HECS! At this rate, I could have it paid off in 15, maybe even 10 years."
✍️Story by Paul Yurleg
📻For more ABC Darwin tune into 105.7 on your radio.
🎧Or stream it from the ABC listen app.
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❗UPDATE: April Fool's! 😉
