Indonesia successfully held its first international fishing tournament off the Widi Islands, South Halmahera, North Maluku, from Oct. 25 to 29. The Widi Islands have the potential to become the world’s latest sports fishing hotspot,” International Game Fish Association representative Tim Simpson said at the tournament’s opening ceremony.

The tournament was organized by the North Maluku provincial government and the South Halmahera regency. The Coordinating Maritime Affairs Ministry, the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry and the Tourism Ministry also supported it.

Sports fishing tourism is a growing industry worldwide. It gives Indonesia an excellent opportunity to attract visitors from around the world to see and experience the beauty and natural wonders that Indonesia’s many tropical islands have to offer.

As fishing grounds in other countries become polluted and over-fished, anglers around the world are now looking for productive new fishing grounds to be discovered.

The aim of the sport is not to harvest the fish, but to release them after they have been caught. This is known as catch-and-release fishing.

Anglers are willing to spend money for the experience, but the fish remain alive to fight another day.

Big fish are the focus, the drawing card that attracts these anglers and induces them to travel to remote areas and spend large sums of money.