Fishing Spots ＞ Borneo
GT/barramundi (kakap)/EstuaryBarramundi（Berau/Maratua）
1 captains listed · sea category. A spot in Maratua / Berau (Borneo) targeting GT/barramundi (kakap)/EstuaryBarramundi（Berau/Maratua）. 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 @jayafishingberau ›The gateway to Maratua / Derawan (East Kalimantan, Berau) is Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) in Berau (Tanjung Redeb). From BEJ, head about 20 minutes by car to the jetty, then cross to Maratua Island by boat in about 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours. It is common to reach BEJ by domestic flight from Balikpapan (BPN), Jakarta, etc. Using a small aircraft to Maratua Airport (RTU) (departing from Samarinda / Berau / Tarakan, with limited frequency) can shorten the boat leg.
| From | Route | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balikpapan (BPN) | Berau / Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) → car → Berau jetty → boat | Domestic flight about 1 hour + 20 min by car + boat about 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours | The most common route. For the boat connection, it is preferable to arrive at BEJ before 3 PM (the last jetty departure is around 16:30). |
| Jakarta / Kuala Lumpur / Singapore | To Berau (BEJ) via Balikpapan (BPN) → jetty → boat | A full day including connections (varies by segment) | Enter BPN by international flight, then take a domestic flight to BEJ. From there it is the same as the BPN route. |
| Samarinda (AAP) | Small aircraft direct to Maratua Airport (RTU) | Varies by flight (only a few flights per week) | Smart Aviation operates about 3 flights per week. From the Jakarta / Surabaya / Bali direction, routing via Samarinda is easier to connect directly. |
| Tarakan (TRK) | Small aircraft direct to Maratua Airport (RTU), or boat | Varies by flight (about 2 flights per week) | Susi Air operates TRK→RTU about 2 flights per week. There is also the option of heading directly to the resort pier by boat from Tarakan. |
| Berau (BEJ) | Small aircraft direct to Maratua Airport (RTU) | Varies by flight (about 1 flight per week) | The direct BEJ→RTU small aircraft is limited to about 1 flight per week. An option if you want to shorten the boat transfer. |
Coordinates: 2.18, 118.62（Open in Google Maps）
GT/barramundi (kakap)/EstuaryBarramundi（Berau/Maratua）
Maratua is known as a prime ground for GT (giant trevally) and dogtooth tuna. The best season for GT is the dry season, when the sea is calm and visibility is good, generally considered to be November to April (per FishingBooker's GT guide). Dogtooth is typically targeted by jigging in deep water around 80 to 100 m, and the resort (Sienna Resort) describes it as an excellent field where both GT and dogtooth can be enjoyed year-round. The dry season (April to October), when sea conditions are stable, offers good conditions for both boat transfers and fishing.
○ in season: Jan–Apr, Nov–Dec
See what else is in season now →
The stage is Maratua Atoll on the outer edge of the Derawan Islands in Berau Regency, East Kalimantan. On the clear reefs, target GT, dogtooth, and grouper on poppers and jigs, while in the estuaries on the Berau side, target barramundi and kakap (snapper). The base is the Sangam jetty at Tanjung Redeb, an open-ocean island about 3 hours away by speedboat.
Full how-to & tackle on each species page：GT Barramundi
*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.
Maratua / Derawan has an equatorial tropical maritime climate, with very little temperature variation throughout the year (annual average around 27°C). The coolest is January at an average of about 26.5°C, and the warmest is around May at an average of about 27.5°C. Daytime rises to around 30°C and nights stay warm at around 24°C. The dry season is roughly April to October, with calm sea conditions and many clear days, while the rainy season from November to March (with rainfall and humidity peaking especially in January) brings more rain and swell. Light summer clothing and swimwear are the basics year-round; for peace of mind, bring sun protection (hat, sunscreen) and a light jacket for wind protection during boat transfers.
| Month | Avg ℃ | High ℃ | Low ℃ | Clothing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26.5 | Light summer clothing and swimwear. Rainy season with peak annual rainfall and humidity; a waterproof jacket gives peace of mind. | |||
| 27 | Light summer clothing and swimwear. Rainy season; a folding umbrella or jacket for squalls. | |||
| 27 | Light summer clothing and swimwear. Late rainy season; protect against both sun and squalls. | |||
| 27 | Light summer clothing and swimwear. Start of the dry season brings more clear days; sunscreen is essential. | |||
| 27.5 | Light summer clothing and swimwear. The hottest time of year; take solid measures against heat and sun. | |||
| 27 | Light summer clothing and swimwear. Comfortable in the dry season; hat and sunscreen. | |||
| 27 | Light summer clothing and swimwear. Dry season with little rain and good sea conditions; sun protection. | |||
| 27 | Light summer clothing and swimwear. The driest time of year and the best season; protect against strong sun. | |||
| 27 | Light summer clothing and swimwear. Humidity is at its lowest and conditions are pleasant; sunscreen. | |||
| 27 | Light summer clothing and swimwear. End of the dry season; sun protection and a light jacket. | |||
| 27 | Light summer clothing and swimwear. Start of the rainy season brings more rain and swell; a waterproof jacket. | |||
| 27 | Light summer clothing and swimwear. Rainy season and peak tourist period, but prepare for squalls. |
| Class | Property | Price (approx) | Highlights | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-end | Maratua Paradise Resort（マラトゥア・パラダイス・リゾート） | Mainly over-water water bungalows. All-inclusive and on the higher side (meals, water, tea/coffee included; beer and soft drinks extra) | A long-established dive resort on Maratua Island. 8 beach chalets plus 5 over-water bungalows. All rooms have a bath and air conditioning. Diver-oriented packages available | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| High-end | Nabucco Island Resort / Nunukan Island Resort（Extra Divers運営） | Around 190 USD per night and up (Nabucco) | A private-island resort on Maratua atoll. Sea-view bungalows (with a spacious veranda and rooftop deck). A diving base of the German-affiliated Extra Divers, highly rated | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| High-end | Noah Maratua Resort（ノア・マラトゥア・リゾート） | — | Ocean villas overlooking a turquoise sea. 8 newly designed units plus 19 sunrise-view villas. Teluk Harapan district. Bookable via Agoda and others | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Standard | Borneo Cottage Maratua（ボルネオ・コテージ・マラトゥア） | — | Located on the northwest corner of Teluk Harapan village. 8 rooms built with local timber plus a private beach. A dedicated dive team and communal meals with fresh seafood daily | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Standard | Maratua Dive Center and Lodge（マラトゥア・ダイブセンター＆ロッジ） | Around 138 USD per night (varies by season) | Sea-view family rooms (with private bath, air conditioning, balcony). Pool, dive center, free parking. Booking rating 8.3 | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Standard | Green Nirvana Maratua Resort（グリーン・ニルヴァーナ） | — | A resort with an attached PADI dive center serving Maratua and Sangalaki Island | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Budget | Derawan Fisheries Cottage（デラワン・フィッシャリーズ・コテージ） | Lodgings on Derawan Island are generally 10 to 30 USD per night (from around Rp197,000) | A popular lodging on Derawan Island. Airport shuttle available. Rustic seaside cottages | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Budget | Losmen Danakan（ロスメン・ダナカン） | Around 10 to 30 USD per night as a guide | Offers some of the cheapest diving on the island. A Derawan Island losmen with a prime location connected directly to the pier and rooms reputed to be clean | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Budget | Mercure Berau（メルキュール・ベラウ／タンジュン・レデブ市街） | Around 33 USD per night and up | An Accor-group city hotel (Jl. Dr. Murjani II No.30, Gayam). Pool, restaurant, fitness. Convenient for a mainland stay before or after the island crossing. Palmy Exclusive Hotel (from around 32 USD) is another option in the same city | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Name | Cuisine | Budget | Highlights | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maratua Paradise Resort レストラン | Indonesian cuisine (seafood-focused) | Included in the all-inclusive accommodation | Seafood prepared Indonesian-style. Fresh fruit, tea and coffee included. Proper dining on Maratua Island | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Saba Resto（Pratasaba Resort内） | Indonesian cuisine / Western cuisine and desserts | — | A floating restaurant on Maratua. Attached to Pratasaba Resort | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Derawan Dive Lodge レストラン | Indonesian cuisine / Western cuisine (buffet style) | Rp150,000 to 350,000 per person | Attached to a dive lodge on Derawan Island. Grilled fish is the specialty | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Rumah Makan Pondok Borneo 99 | Seafood / Indonesian cuisine | — | Popular with both locals and tourists. A varied seafood menu, ideal for seafood lovers in Berau | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Sari Ponti Restaurant（サリ・ポンティ） | Chinese / Asian / Indonesian cuisine | — | Tanjung Redeb city (Jalan Durian II No.36). Clean with a calm atmosphere. Crab, shrimp, and snapper are recommended | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Warung Acheh（ワルン・アチェ） | Cafe / light meals (Aceh coffee) | — | A local breakfast spot in Tanjung Redeb. A small shop famous for authentic Aceh coffee | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Kedai Bakso Berau | Asian / Indonesian cuisine (meatballs) | — | Reputed as the best bakso (meatballs) in Berau. A cozy shop surrounded by greenery | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
* A “seasonal posting trend” based on public social posts we track (3 accounts, period 2016-11–2026-04, 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.