Fishing Spots ＞ East Indonesia
2 captains listed · sea category. A spot in Ambon / Banda Sea (East Indonesia) targeting GT/Dogtooth tuna. Check the tide, captains and recent catches, then contact them directly via public social accounts. Access, climate and lodging are in the details below.
Book / contact the captain directly @neomicruiseindonesia ›The gateway is Ambon's Pattimura Airport (AMQ). There are no direct flights from Japan; the standard route is via Jakarta (CGK), and a route via Makassar (UPG) is also usable. CGK→AMQ is operated nonstop by Garuda Indonesia / Batik Air / Citilink / Lion Air. The airport is about 38 km west of the city center; you reach the city/port by taxi (sedan, minivan) or by the DAMRI bus that connects the airport with Merdeka Square. GT and tuna fishing in the Banda Sea is based on liveaboard cruises departing from Ambon Port.
| From | Route | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jakarta (CGK) | Direct | About 3 hr 30 min | Operated nonstop by Garuda / Batik Air / Citilink / Lion Air. The main route from Japan |
| Makassar (UPG) | Direct | About 1 hr 30 min | A hub via Sulawesi. Entering AMQ with a CGK→UPG connection is also common |
| Pattimura Airport (AMQ) | Taxi / DAMRI bus | About 1 hr to the city | The airport is about 38 km west of the city center. Taxis are sedans and minivans. The DAMRI bus runs airport–Merdeka Square |
Coordinates: -3.65, 128.19（Open in Google Maps）
GT/Dogtooth tuna
The best season for GT and tuna is the dry season, avoiding the rainy season (May–September). Liveaboards from Ambon to the Banda Sea / Lucipara Islands are concentrated roughly in March–April and September–November (mainly October–November), when the sea is calm and visibility is high. The Lucipara Islands lie about 175 km offshore from Ambon Port, where you can target GT, dogtooth tuna, and yellowfin (30–70 kg) by popping / jigging / trolling.
○ in season: Mar–Apr, Sep–Nov
See what else is in season now →
Built around liveaboards running roughly 175 km south of Ambon to explore the outer islands of the Banda Sea, such as the Lucipara group. Target GT, dogtooth, giant trevally-class isomaguro, and grouper on poppers, jigs, and trolling. The dry season of Sep-Nov is best, when the sea lies flat and visibility is good, and high fish activity can be expected.
Full how-to & tackle on each species page：GT Dogtooth tuna
*Photos are not re-hosted; we link to each social account (R8). Auto-updated with the latest posts.
*Official embeds of each channel's public videos. Click to play on YouTube.
The Maluku (Moluccas) Islands have a rainy season opposite to that of Honshu. May–September, when the southeast monsoon blows, is the rainy season with heavy rain and rough seas, while October–April is relatively dry. Temperatures are high year-round, hot and humid, with highs around 27°C even in August, the coolest month. For fishing, sea conditions are more stable in the dry season, avoiding the rainy season.
| Month | Avg ℃ | High ℃ | Low ℃ | Clothing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 31 | 24 | Summer clothes. Short sleeves, hat, sun protection | |
| 27 | 31 | 24 | Summer clothes. Short sleeves, hat, sun protection | |
| 27 | 31 | 24 | Summer clothes. Short sleeves, hat, sun protection | |
| 27 | 30 | 24 | Summer clothes. Start of the rainy season; carry rain gear | |
| 26 | 29 | 24 | Summer clothes + rainwear. Heavy rain in the rainy season | |
| 26 | 28 | 23 | Summer clothes + rainwear. The wettest period | |
| 25 | 27 | 23 | Summer clothes + rainwear. Heavy rain in the rainy season | |
| 25 | 27 | 23 | Summer clothes + rainwear. A bit cooler, rain lingers | |
| 26 | 28 | 23 | Summer clothes. Rain begins to ease | |
| 26 | 29 | 23 | Summer clothes. Start of the dry season, comfortable | |
| 27 | 31 | 24 | Summer clothes. Short sleeves, hat, sun protection | |
| 28 | 31 | 24 | Summer clothes. The hottest month of the year. Sun protection essential |
| Class | Property | Price (approx) | Highlights | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-end | Hotel Santika Premiere Ambon | About 45–66 USD/night | 4-star. City center, with restaurant and bar. An elegant, highly rated city hotel scoring 8.2/10 | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| High-end | Swiss-Belhotel Ambon | About 32–52 USD/night | 4-star, 111 rooms. In the city center on Jl. Benteng Kapaha, with bay and mountain views. Spa, fitness, Swiss-Cafe, and lounge bar | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| High-end | The Natsepa Resort & Conference Center (旧Aston Natsepa) | About 39–46 USD/night | A resort along Natsepa Bay. 30 min by car from the city, very close to dive spots. Conference facilities included | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Standard | Amaris Hotel Ambon | From about 22 USD/night | A modern budget-to-midrange hotel. Free breakfast. Good access to the city | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Standard | Manise Hotel | From about 22 USD/night | Located in central Ambon city. Kind, professional staff. A convenient midrange hotel as a sightseeing base | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Budget | Budget Hotel Ambon | From about 5 USD/night (lowest tier) | A budget hotel in the central business district (CBD). About 1.7 km to the ferry terminal | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Name | Cuisine | Budget | Highlights | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rumah Makan Dua Ikan | Maluku cuisine / seafood | — | Jl. Wolter Monginsidi (Lateri), waterfront seating jutting out over Ambon Bay. ikan woku, ikan kuah kuning, Papeda pindang kuning | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Sari Gurih Restaurant | Seafood / Maluku cuisine | — | A long-established seaside spot popular with locals. Papeda (sago porridge) and turmeric fish soup (ikan kuah kuning) are specialties, plus bunga pepaya | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Rumah Makan Dedes Ambon | Maluku local cuisine | — | A popular spot with a full range of authentic local dishes. The signatures are papeda and Ikan Kuah Kuning (yellow fish soup) | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| 88 Seafood Restaurant | Seafood | — | Semi-open seating along Ambon Bay (Teluk Ambon). Family-friendly. Yellow fish soup + papeda is the signature | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Imperial Restaurant | Seafood | — | Along Jl. Diponegoro. A rich variety of fresh seafood dishes; a go-to spot for seafood lovers | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Dapor Kole Kole | Maluku cuisine / seafood | — | Charcoal-grilled tuna seasoned with lime and chili is popular with locals. Smooth papeda + yellow fish soup too | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
Nearby spots easy to combine into one trip (straight-line distance). See the map above for locations.