Fishing Spots ＞ Borneo
Deep/GT/★Papuan bassRiver
1 captains listed · casting available · sea category. A spot in Lahad Datu / Tambisan (Borneo) targeting Deep/GT/★Papuan bassRiver. 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 @hamba.allah4407 ›The gateway is Lahad Datu Airport (LDU). About 1 hour from the state capital Kota Kinabalu (BKI) on a MASwings domestic flight. International arrivals generally transfer at BKI. It is about a 10-minute drive from the airport to the city center. Tambisan is about 2 hours overland from town, then about 5 minutes by boat from the Kampung Tambisan jetty. It is also a gateway to the Danum Valley.
| From | Route | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kota Kinabalu (BKI) | MASwings domestic flight (direct) | About 56 min to 1 hour | Several flights weekly. Fares around RM165–213 one way. International arrivals transfer at BKI. |
| Kota Kinabalu | Overland (car/bus) | About 6–7 hours | An alternative to flying. Long distance. |
| Lahad Datu Airport (LDU) | Taxi | About 10 minutes to the city | Taxis stationed at the airport. To the city/port. |
| Lahad Datu town | Overland + boat (via Kampung Tambisan) | About 2 hours overland + about 5 minutes by boat | To Tambisan Island. Sea fishing in the Sulu Sea, night fishing on the Merah River, etc. |
Coordinates: 5.03, 118.33（Open in Google Maps）
Deep/GT/★Papuan bassRiver
On the east coast the northeast monsoon (November–March) tends to bring heavy rain and rough seas. Fishing is said to be best around early April or late November when the weather stabilizes, targeting giant trevally (GT), red snapper, Spanish mackerel, cobia, grouper, and more. The waters off Lahad Datu to Semporna also have many giant grouper.
◎ peak: Apr–May · ○ in season: Apr–Oct
See what else is in season now →
For GT Papuan bass The classic approach is popping/casting a diving pencil or popper across the surface; when fish are shy, jigging a heavy metal jig also works.
Full how-to & tackle on each species page
*Photos are not re-hosted; we link to each social account (R8). Auto-updated with the latest posts.
Köppen classification Af (tropical rainforest climate). Annual average temperature around 26°C with little variation through the year. Highs around 31°C and lows of 23–25°C, with high humidity of 83–87%. May is the hottest, precipitation is somewhat lower in February–April, and October has the most. Light summer clothing plus rain gear and sun protection are the year-round basics. Values are representative of Lahad Datu (east coast of Sabah).
| Month | Avg ℃ | High ℃ | Low ℃ | Clothing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 30 | 23 | Light summer clothing. Carry rain gear and sun protection | |
| 26 | 30 | 23 | Light summer clothing. Relatively dry season and comfortable | |
| 26 | 31 | 23 | Light summer clothing. Somewhat less precipitation. Sun protection essential | |
| 26 | 31 | 23 | Light summer clothing. The hottest period. Prioritize breathability | |
| 27 | 32 | 24 | Light summer clothing. The hottest time of the year. Sun protection and hydration | |
| 26 | 31 | 23 | Light summer clothing + rain gear. Hot and humid | |
| 26 | 31 | 23 | Light summer clothing + rain gear. Hot and humid | |
| 26 | 31 | 23 | Light summer clothing + rain gear. Sun protection essential | |
| 26 | 31 | 23 | Light summer clothing + rain gear. Hot and humid | |
| 26 | 31 | 23 | Light summer clothing + solid rain gear. Peak precipitation period | |
| 26 | 31 | 23 | Light summer clothing + rain gear. Rain increases with the onset of the northeast monsoon | |
| 26 | 30 | 23 | Light summer clothing + rain gear. Plenty of rain |
| Class | Property | Price (approx) | Highlights | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-end | Hotel De Leon (De Leon Hotel) | About USD27–48/night | A top-class business hotel in Lahad Datu town. Located on the sea side, on the west side of town. Well equipped. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| High-end | My Inn Hotel Lahad Datu | About USD27–28/night | 3-star. Restaurant, 24-hour front desk, concierge, free WiFi. A comfortable upper-mid-range option in town. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| High-end | The Executive Hotel Lahad Datu | About USD15–20/night | 3-star. Free WiFi, room service, 24-hour front desk, family rooms. Town center. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Standard | Maya Hotel | — | The town's premier flashpacker option. Three stories, small tiled rooms with balconies. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Budget | Tabin Lodge | — | A budget-focused place, the only one in town with a dormitory. Twins and doubles also available, with a choice of fan/air conditioning and shared or private facilities. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Name | Cuisine | Budget | Highlights | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dovist Restaurant | Chinese / seafood | — | The most popular Chinese restaurant in Lahad Datu. A large, air-conditioned two-section venue famous for seafood and local dishes. Fajar area. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Sakura Seafood Restaurant | Seafood (Chinese style) | — | Popular with locals. At the west end of town, serving Chinese-style seafood from live tanks. The seafood steamboat is well regarded. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Wilaya Ocean Seafood | Seafood | — | A waterside location jutting out over the sea. A spot with beautiful night views. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Restoran Gembira | Seafood | — | A well-regarded seafood restaurant. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Restoran Auliah | Indian cuisine | — | Open all day. A good selection of Indian dishes such as roti and curry. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
* A “seasonal posting trend” based on public social posts we track (2 accounts, period 2024-09–2026-07, 10 posts). Not actual catch statistics—posting frequency ≠ real catch; treat as a reference indicator with biases (popular-account skew, etc.). Sources are the linked posts.
Nearby spots easy to combine into one trip (straight-line distance). See the map above for locations.