Fishing Spots ＞ East Indonesia
GT/Dogtooth tuna（Popping/Jigging）
2 captains listed · sea category. A spot in Saumlaki / Tanimbar (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 @saumlaki_fishing_charter ›The gateway to Saumlaki (Tanimbar Islands, southern tip of Maluku Province) is Mathilda Batlayeri Airport (SXK). Opened in 2014, it is mainly served by Wings Air flights from Ambon (AMQ), from where you head to the town and port. Access is basically via Ambon (further connecting through a domestic hub).
| From | Route | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ambon (AMQ) | Direct (Wings Air) | About 1 hour 40 minutes | The main scheduled route to SXK. About 592 km. Ambon connects from Jakarta/Makassar etc. by domestic flights. |
| Nearby islands (Larat, Tiakur etc.) | Smart Aviation (pioneer flights) | Small-aircraft routes linking outlying islands. Frequencies are limited. | |
| Saumlaki Airport (SXK) | Land (angkot/car) | From the airport to the town and Saumlaki Port. In-town transport is by angkot (shared minibus). | |
| Saumlaki Port | Sea (ferry/Sea Toll, Dobo etc.) | There are scheduled routes to places such as Dobo in the Aru Islands. A base for access to outlying and nearby waters. |
Coordinates: -7.98, 131.3（Open in Google Maps）
GT/Dogtooth tuna
The best time for sea and underwater activities is the dry season of April-October (especially Aug-Oct, with few rainy days and stable sea conditions). Southern Maluku (the Kei/Aru/Tanimbar area) is considered best to visit from May to September. Large migratory fish such as GT generally favor the stable sea conditions of the tropical dry season.
○ in season: Apr–Oct
See what else is in season now →
For GT Dogtooth 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.
A tropical monsoon climate, hot and humid year-round. Average temperatures are roughly 25-28C, lows around 25C, and daytime around 30C (highs around 33C in Oct-Dec). The rainy season is Dec-Mar (January is the wettest), while Apr-Sep tends to be dry with winds from the Australian direction. The following are representative values for the southern Maluku region (official monthly high/low tables are scarce; unknown values are left blank).
| Month | Avg ℃ | High ℃ | Low ℃ | Clothing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 25 | Light midsummer clothing plus rain gear. Wettest period. | ||
| 27 | 25 | Light clothing plus rain gear. Rainy season. | ||
| 27 | 25 | Light clothing plus rain gear. Late rainy season. | ||
| 27 | 25 | Light clothing. Transition to the dry season. | ||
| 27 | 25 | Light clothing. Start of the dry season. | ||
| 26 | 24 | Light clothing. Pleasant in the dry season. | ||
| 26 | 24 | Light clothing. A bit cooler (about 25.7C). | ||
| 26 | 24 | Light clothing. Least rain. Dry season. | ||
| 27 | 25 | Light clothing. Dry season. | ||
| 28 | 33 | 25 | Light clothing. The hottest period; sun protection. | |
| 28 | 25 | Light clothing. Hot. Just before the rainy season. | ||
| 28 | 25 | Light clothing plus rain gear. The hottest month; start of the rainy season. |
| Class | Property | Price (approx) | Highlights | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-end | Hotel & Villa Bukit Indah Saumlaki by LeGreen | About US$51+/night (3-star, 30 rooms total) | Central Saumlaki, Jl. Ir. Soekarno No.46. Rooms with AC, flat-screen TV and balcony, with a garden and restaurant; free breakfast/WiFi/parking. The best-equipped lodging in town | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| High-end | Hotel Harapan Indah | Standard Rp400,000 / VIP/King Rp750,000 | Jl. Mathilda Batlayeri. Facing the port, with over-water bungalows and a sea-view restaurant. Clean rooms with private bath and satellite TV. Tel (0918) 21019 | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| High-end | Hotel Beringin Dua | Superior Rp495,000 / Deluxe Rp770,000 | Jl. Sifnana. An upper-tier in-town lodging ranging from Superior to Deluxe. Tel (0918) 21814 | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Standard | Hotel Incla | Standard Rp300,000 / Superior Rp500,000 / Deluxe Rp650,000 | Jl. Mathilda Batlayeri. A mid-range hotel in the town center | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Standard | Hotel Galaxy | Standard/VIP Rp300,000 / Deluxe Rp500,000 | Jl. Urayana (K.H. Dewantara). A mid-range hotel in the center. Tel (0918) 22222 / 21777 | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Standard | Hotel Ratulel | — | A mid-range lodging in Saumlaki town (listed on the official Tanimbar Regency site). Detailed rates to be confirmed | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Budget | Penginapan Pantai Indah | — | A simple lodging (penginapan) in Saumlaki town. For low budgets. Rates to be confirmed | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Budget | Penginapan Kharisma | — | A simple lodging (penginapan) in Saumlaki town. For low budgets. Rates to be confirmed | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Budget | Hotel Galaxy（スタンダード室） | Rp300,000 | Relatively affordable in the center. For low budgets, the Standard/VIP rooms are an option | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Name | Cuisine | Budget | Highlights | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaffe Nass | Cafe / over-water dining | — | A wooden stilt cafe built over the water at Saumlaki Port, Tanimbar Indah. Everything from traditional Indonesian cuisine to modern light meals. Fine views and a romantic atmosphere | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Restoran 3 Koki | Seafood / Indonesian cuisine | Squid/shrimp dishes Rp35,000-45,000 | Southern Tanimbar. Ethnic-style interior using wood and bamboo. High-quality setting yet affordable prices. Seafood, chicken and light meals | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Ikan Bakar Pak Rizki | Grilled fish (ikan bakar) | — | Along the Saumlaki coast, Olilit village. A local eatery famous for charcoal-grilled fresh fish | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Daeng Kuliner Saumlaki | Indonesian cuisine | — | Jl. Sifnana, in front of J&T. An Indonesian eatery aimed at locals | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
Nearby spots easy to combine into one trip (straight-line distance). See the map above for locations.