For hardcore anglers, there is nothing like sitting on a boat slowly rocking on the windy ocean casting a line and waiting for a big fish to take the bait. Forget about the stressful urban rat race and settle down for a whole day without being bothered by the shrill of your smartphone or overwhelmed by a litany of unopened emails.

For them, fishing is a lot more than a hobby. It’s an addiction. They spend hours upon hours jigging the line. The most amazing sensation is when they feel a tug, pull it up, reel it in and look: The rod is steeply bending downward! Something big has been caught.

The tug-of-war between a human and a fish is on. It’s the moments when the angler, full of anticipation, is thrilled by a mystery in the deep: What fish could be on the hook? How big is it? Will he eventually be able to haul it onto the boat, or will the catch manage to get off and swim away? And it is exactly this sensation of “mystery reward” that will remain forever in the angler’s mind and make the urge to go on the next fishing trip unbearable.

State-of-the-art: Pratama D. Persadha casts a line with an electric reel on his boat Adhiraja 3. (Courtesy of Pratama D. Persadha)

Businessman Taufik Tanuwidjaja, who has two fishing boats — Lucky Star and Samson — believes going fishing out at sea is the most effective way to let go of the stress and boredom that come with his everyday rat race. He is so passionate about his hobby that he goes angling on the open seas twice or thrice a week.

“Fishing heals my stress and gives me peace of mind,” he says. “In the wilderness, I can see new landscapes, get to know people from different cultural backgrounds, make new friends and savor cuisines in places away from home.” One of his most unforgettable moments was when he pulled up a 50-kilogram dogtooth tuna.

Pratama D. Persadha is an intelligence expert who goes fishing to different regions at least once a month. He swears by the psychological benefit of fishing so goes to the sea to train patience, obtain good companions, enjoy the wilderness and hone his teamwork skills. “It is even better if I catch a fish.” He recalls his best catch was a 60-kg marlin.

Jigging around: The waters off Morotai in North Maluku are among the most popular fishing havens in Indonesia. (JP/Arief Suhardiman)

Unlike amateurs, heavyweight anglers are aware of the need to support the global campaign for sustainable fishing. In certain regions where overfishing is threatening fish stock, they practice catch-and-release fishing. Fish that are small, rare or those lying eggs are let go as soon as their capture is celebrated.

But for big time anglers who do not mind spending billions of rupiah on their own luxury fishing boats and branded tackles, their main purpose is the fun and the adventure — not bringing home their catch like regular hobbyists.

They usually have different tackles and techniques for catching different favorite fish, like giant trevally, yellowfin tuna, dogtooth tuna and marlin. Of course the experience and the fun of angling in the high seas cannot be measured with the money value they spend on the pricey tackles.

The most financially valuable asset is the boat, but it is no problem for well-heeled fishing addicts. Pratama, for instance, has three customized fast fishing boats he has named after his son Adhiraja. He bought them for Rp 700 million (US$50,082), Rp 1 billion and Rp 2 billion respectively. Adhiraja 3 is the largest and is capable of going on fishing trips of up to four days without refueling.

Big fish: Taufik Tanuwidjaja catches a dogtooth tuna. (Courtesy of Taufik Tanuwidjaja)

And their fishing grounds are not confined to Indonesian waters. They also go as far away as Australia, New Zealand and the United States. In Indonesia, they have favorite spots for certain types of fishing.

Taufik goes to Pangalasiang, Central Sulawesi, for jigging — a fishing technique in which the angler using metal jig lures jerked in vertical motions to attract fish. For the popping technique, in which the angler uses popper lures designed as baitfish on the water surface, his favorite spot is Batu Abah, Bali. When he has plenty of time, he also goes as far away as Malaysia and New Zealand in pursuit of the pleasure of fishing.

Coming back to town, he may not take a single fish. Fishing addicts like him take great enjoyment in the feeling of being fully recharged and relieved from stress.