Fishing Spots ＞ Borneo
Deep/Bottom fish
2 captains listed · sea category. A spot in Sandakan (Borneo) targeting Deep/Bottom fish. 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 @anglertransportsandakan ›The gateway to Sandakan (east coast of Sabah) is Sandakan Airport (SDK). Located about 11 km west of the city center, it is a 20-30 minute taxi or Grab (ride-hailing) ride from the airport. It is about 50 minutes by domestic flight from the state capital Kota Kinabalu (BKI), and there are also direct flights from the federal capital Kuala Lumpur (KUL). Places such as the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre are accessed by car from the city or airport.
| From | Route | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kota Kinabalu (BKI) | BKI to SDK direct flight (AirAsia / Firefly, etc.) | About 50 minutes | With over 40 flights per week, it has the most frequent service and is the easiest to access. Distance about 138 miles (about 222 km). |
| Kuala Lumpur (KUL) | KUL to SDK direct flight (Batik Air / Malaysia Airlines, etc.) | About 2 hours 40 minutes | Direct flight from Peninsular Malaysia. Some flights involve a stopover, so check in advance. |
| Sandakan Airport (SDK) | Airport to city/port by taxi/Grab | About 20-30 minutes | The airport is about 11 km west of the city center. Arranging a car is convenient for suburban spots such as Sepilok. |
Coordinates: 5.84, 118.12（Open in Google Maps）
Deep/Bottom fish
For deep / bottom fishing, the dry season from May to September, with little rain and a relatively calm sea, is the prime time. The best season for deep-sea fishing in Sabah overall is said to be April to July. On the other hand, during the northeast monsoon period from November to March, rainfall increases on the east coast (Sandakan) and sea conditions tend to be rough, making departures unstable.
◎ peak: May–Jul · ○ in season: Apr–Sep
See what else is in season now →
*Photos are not re-hosted; we link to each social account (R8). Auto-updated with the latest posts.
Sandakan has a tropical rainforest climate, hot and humid throughout the year. Temperatures are almost constant year-round, around 30C during the day and around 24C at night. Annual rainfall is high at about 3,000 mm, increasing especially during the northeast monsoon period from November to January. Light, quick-drying summer clothes are basic year-round, and a layer, rain gear, and a hat provide peace of mind against indoor air-conditioning, squalls, and sunshine.
| Month | Avg ℃ | High ℃ | Low ℃ | Clothing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27.0 | 29.6 | 24.3 | Light summer clothes. More rain in the rainy season, rain gear is essential | |
| 27.1 | 29.9 | 24.3 | Light summer clothes. Rain gear and a layer for air-conditioning | |
| 27.6 | 30.8 | 24.4 | Breathable summer clothes. Sun protection | |
| 28.2 | 31.8 | 24.7 | Mainly short sleeves and shorts. Hat and sunscreen | |
| 28.8 | 32.7 | 24.9 | The hottest period. Cool summer clothes and hydration | |
| 28.6 | 32.6 | 24.5 | Mainly short sleeves. Protection against sun and heatstroke | |
| 28.4 | 32.5 | 24.2 | Light summer clothes. Protection against daytime heat | |
| 28.4 | 32.7 | 24.2 | Short sleeves and quick-drying material. Hat and sunglasses | |
| 28.3 | 32.5 | 24.1 | Light summer clothes. Rain gear for squalls | |
| 28.0 | 31.7 | 24.2 | Summer clothes. Rain gear as rain begins to increase | |
| 27.6 | 30.9 | 24.3 | Summer clothes. Rain gear essential as the rainy season begins | |
| 27.3 | 30.2 | 24.4 | Light summer clothes. More rain, rain gear and a layer |
| Class | Property | Price (approx) | Highlights | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-end | Four Points by Sheraton Sandakan | From RM180/night as a guide | High-rise hotel on the city waterfront (Sandakan Harbour Square). Rooms overlooking the Sulu Sea, outdoor pool, breakfast buffet. Seafront location in the city. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| High-end | Sabah Hotel Sandakan | Mid to upper class | Deluxe hotel surrounded by tropical rainforest. Spa, fitness, sauna, garden pool. Lush green setting on the city outskirts. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| High-end | Ormond Sandakan | Upper class | Four-star hotel with an outdoor pool, restaurant, and bar. City area. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Standard | Sepilok Nature Lodge | Mid class | Adjacent to the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. 60 twin-share chalets built with locally sourced timber. Near Sepilok, very close to the orangutan reserve. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Standard | Sepilok Forest Edge Resort | Mid class (dormitory is cheaper) | Air-conditioned wooden chalets (with hot shower). Restaurant, bar, plunge pool, tours arrangeable. Near Sepilok, 20 minutes by car from Sandakan Airport. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Standard | Nak Hotel | From RM58 (single with breakfast RM88 example) | Prime location in the city center. Walking distance to shops, restaurants, and sights. Affordable mid-range hotel. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Budget | Hotel Ramai | RM55-64 as a guide | Leila Road, near the city center. Free Wi-Fi and parking. A standard, value-for-money lodging. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Budget | Hotel City View | From RM43/night as a guide | Low-priced hotel in the city area. Practical lodging with basic facilities. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Budget | Hotel Lutana | From RM47/night as a guide | Low-priced hotel in the city area. An affordable option for short stays. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Name | Cuisine | Budget | Highlights | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sim Sim Seafood 88 (Bridge 8) | Seafood | — | Fresh seafood restaurant where you pick your favorite fish and shellfish from the holding tanks of the Sim Sim stilt village. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Nam Chai Restaurant | Seafood / Chinese (bak kut teh) | — | Sandakan's specialty seafood bak kut teh. A unique dish simmering fish, prawns, and vegetables in a medicinal herbal soup. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Kedai Makan Kong Teck | Seafood noodles | — | Renowned fish noodles. Also homemade fish paste, prawn balls, and fucuk (beancurd skin with seafood). | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Sandakan Central Market (上階の屋台) | Local stalls / Malay & Chinese | From about RM5 per meal | A cheap stall street bustling from morning. Malay food on the 1st floor, Chinese on the 2nd. A go-to for budget local food. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Tropical Garden Steamboat (Trig Hill) | Steamboat (hot pot buffet) | About RM28 per person | Popular buffet-style steamboat at Trig Hill. All-you-can-eat, cooking fresh seafood yourself. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Store H90 (Sim Sim Water Village) | Seafood | — | A well-regarded seafood restaurant in the Sim Sim Water Village. The signature salted fish dish is recommended. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
* A “seasonal posting trend” based on public social posts we track (2 accounts, period 2023-10–2026-06, 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.