Fishing Spots ＞ Borneo
1 captains listed · casting available · sea category. A spot in Layang-Layang (Borneo) targeting Big game/GT/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 @kwongsupikansabah ›Layang-Layang (Swallow Reef) is a remote atoll in the South China Sea about 300 km northwest of Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, and a Malaysian Navy facility is attached to it. There are no regular public flights, and the only people who can land are registered guests of the island's sole Layang Layang Island Resort (and charters arranged by the resort). The gateway is Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI), about 1 hour away by a dedicated charter flight arranged by the resort. The island is generally open from around March to August and is closed during the northeast monsoon season (around September to February).
| From | Route | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) | Dedicated charter aircraft (small plane) arranged by Layang Layang Island Resort | About 1 hour | Tickets come as a set with the resort accommodation package and cannot be purchased separately. Flights are limited to a few per week and require advance booking. Departures are generally in the early morning (e.g., depart 5:30 → arrive 6:30). The departure terminal is listed as T1 or T2 of BKI depending on the source, so checking in advance is recommended. Operations are generally only during the open season of around March to August. |
| Kota Kinabalu or Labuan | Catamaran / liveaboard (charter vessel) | About 20–24 hours (depending on sea conditions) | An alternative sea route. As it is an atoll under military control, landing is limited to registered resort/charter guests, and advance booking and boarding clearance are required. |
Coordinates: 7.37, 113.84（Open in Google Maps）
Big game/GT/Tuna
The island's open season is generally March to August, and it is closed from September to February due to the northeast monsoon. The best season for diving and fishing is throughout this open season, with visibility of 20–40 m or more and water temperatures in the upper 20s°C. The biggest highlight, the schools of hammerhead sharks, peak for encounters in April to May, which is their breeding season. Large migratory fish such as barracuda, bigeye trevally, snapper, and dogtooth tuna can also be targeted, and whale sharks and manta rays may appear.
◎ peak: Mar–May · ○ in season: Mar–Aug
See what else is in season now →
For GT Tuna 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.
Because island-specific monthly temperature statistics are scarcely published, monthly averages for nearby Kota Kinabalu (Sabah coast), which represents the same South China Sea / off-Sabah area, are provided as a guide. With a tropical climate near the equator, it is hot and humid throughout the year (humidity around 82–84%), and the annual temperature range is small. Sea temperature is generally around 28–30°C. The island is generally open only from around March to August, and during the northeast monsoon season (roughly September to February) it is closed due to strong winds, high waves, and rainfall.
| Month | Avg ℃ | High ℃ | Low ℃ | Clothing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27.4 | 31.3 | 23.5 | Summer clothes and quick-drying materials year-round. A hat and light rain gear to cope with sunshine and squalls | |
| 27.5 | 31.4 | 23.6 | Summer clothes. A relatively low-rainfall period; thin long sleeves for sun protection | |
| 28.0 | 32.1 | 23.9 | Summer clothes. The start of the open season, with strong sunshine. Sunglasses and sunscreen | |
| 28.8 | 33.0 | 24.5 | Summer clothes. The hottest period; breathable clothing and plenty of hydration | |
| 28.9 | 33.1 | 24.7 | Summer clothes. The hottest time of the year. A hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are essential | |
| 28.5 | 32.6 | 24.4 | Summer clothes. Hot and humid; light rain gear for sudden showers | |
| 28.2 | 32.3 | 24.1 | Summer clothes. Quick-drying materials plus rain gear. Protection against direct daytime sun | |
| 28.3 | 32.4 | 24.1 | Summer clothes. The end of the open season; continued response to high heat and humidity | |
| 28.1 | 32.2 | 24.0 | Summer clothes. Around the start of the closed season, rainfall increases so bring heavier rain gear | |
| 27.9 | 31.8 | 24.0 | Summer clothes plus rain gear. A period of much rainfall | |
| 28.0 | 31.9 | 24.0 | Summer clothes plus solid rain gear. Frequent rain due to the influence of the northeast monsoon | |
| 27.8 | 31.7 | 23.9 | Summer clothes plus rain gear. The monsoon season, so beware of rainfall and strong winds |
| Class | Property | Price (approx) | Highlights | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-end | Layang Layang Island Resort（レイアンレイアン島リゾート） | 6-day, 5-night diving package from around USD2,250 (breakfast, lunch, and dinner; round-trip KK charter flight included). April 1 to May 15 is the busy hammerhead season with a surcharge of about 10% | The only accommodation on the island. A dive resort on an atoll adjacent to the navy base, with a PADI dive center. Open only from March to August (closed September to February due to the northeast monsoon) | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| High-end | Shangri-La Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu（出発拠点KK） | From around USD180–320 per night | A five-star beach resort about 10 minutes from KK Airport. Private marina, spa, and six restaurants and bars. Ideal for staying before and after the charter flight to Layang-Layang | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| High-end | Hyatt Regency Kinabalu（出発拠点KK） | From around USD129 per night | A waterfront location in central KK city. Pool, spa, and free Wi-Fi. Good access to city sightseeing and the ferry terminal | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Standard | Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu（出発拠点KK） | From around USD68 per night | A quality hotel on the central waterfront. Sea-view / city-view rooms. Very close to the Jesselton Point ferry terminal | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Standard | Promenade Hotel Kota Kinabalu（出発拠点KK） | — | A prime location with good access to both the airport and the city. Renovated facilities and well rated | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Standard | Hotel Sixty3 Kota Kinabalu（出発拠点KK） | — | A reliable, standard mid-range hotel in KK city | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Budget | Dreamtel Kota Kinabalu（出発拠点KK） | — | A good-value budget hotel in the city center | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Budget | Cititel Express Kota Kinabalu（出発拠点KK） | — | Budget-oriented with a central location. Clean and comfortable, with easy access to major sights | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Name | Cuisine | Budget | Highlights | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Layang Layang Island Resort レストラン（150席） | Buffet (Oriental + Western / mainly Asian cuisine) | All meals included in the accommodation package (no extra charge) | Meals are served five times a day to fit diving (a light breakfast, a full breakfast buffet after diving, a lunch buffet, an afternoon tea snack, and a dinner buffet). Air-conditioned canteen or open-air poolside seating. The menu changes daily | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Layang Layang Island Resort バー（レセプションラウンジ） | Bar / lounge | Charged separately (beer, wine, soft drinks, etc.) | A full bar where you can enjoy cocktails while watching the sunset over the lagoon. Has a TV and serves beer and wine | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
Nearby spots easy to combine into one trip (straight-line distance). See the map above for locations.