Fishing Spots ＞ Borneo
GT/Jigging/Deep
4 captains listed · casting available · sea category. A spot in Semporna (Borneo) targeting GT/Jigging/Deep. 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 @semporna_fishing_trip ›The gateway to Semporna/Sipadan is Tawau Airport (TWU). From the airport to the town of Semporna and its jetty is about 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes by car (about 51 km). Tawau is usually reached via Kota Kinabalu (BKI), and there are also direct flights from Kuala Lumpur (KUL). Travel to Sipadan typically involves staying at a resort on an island around Semporna (Mabul/Kapalai, etc.).
| From | Route | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kota Kinabalu (BKI) | BKI -> Tawau Airport (TWU) domestic flight about 55 min -> car to Semporna about 1 hour to 1 hour 20 min | Total about 2-3 hours (including layover wait) | Operated by AirAsia/Batik Air. The shortest route within Sabah, with relatively frequent service. |
| Kuala Lumpur (KUL) | KUL -> Tawau Airport (TWU) direct flight about 2 hours 50 min -> car to Semporna about 1 hour to 1 hour 20 min | Total about 4-5 hours (including layover wait) | Direct flights by AirAsia/Malaysia Airlines/Batik Air, several daily. From Japan, a transit via KUL is common. |
| Tawau Airport (TWU) | By car (private taxi/transfer) or minibus to Semporna, about 51 km | About 1 hour to 1 hour 20 min (1.5-2 hours depending on road conditions) | Taxi/transfer is generally RM100-150 directly to the jetty. The minibus runs about 5 times a day, about 1 hour 30 min. |
Coordinates: 4.48, 118.61（Open in Google Maps）
GT/Jigging/Deep
Diving (Sipadan): The best season is the dry season from April to December; July to September in particular is the peak for both visibility and migratory fish, and September to October also offers good conditions with calm seas. From around December to February it is the rainy season and visibility tends to drop. Note that Sipadan is fully closed every year from November 1 to 30, with no landings allowed. Sipadan entry permits are hard to get in busy periods such as March to August and around Lunar New Year, summer holidays, and early October, so booking 4-5 or more consecutive nights is advantageous for securing one. Sea turtles are abundant from April to September, and large sharks are best targeted from January to March when water temperatures drop. GT/jigging (casting/popping): Semporna charters operate year-round, but the dry season with stable seas (roughly May to September) is the prime time. GT are mainly targeted with topwater poppers/stickbaits and jigging over reefs and the 120-130 m depth zone. In Malaysia generally, GT are said to become active from April onward. (Within the scope of the sources, boats run year-round, but definitive pinpointing of the peak season is limited.)
◎ peak: Jul–Sep · ○ in season: Apr–Dec
See what else is in season now →
Semporna is the launch point for boat fishing based around the island group of southeastern Sabah. It's a two-pronged game: jigging the deep at around 120-130 m by day, and casting for GT (giant trevally) on the shallow reefs. The targets are varied, including grouper, amberjack, Spanish mackerel, and grouper-type bottom fish. Fishing here centers on boat trips in high-clarity waters.
Full how-to & tackle on each species page：GT
*Photos are not re-hosted; we link to each social account (R8). Auto-updated with the latest posts.
A tropical rainforest climate that stays almost constant year-round. Daytime highs are around 30-31C and nighttime lows are 24-25C, with little difference between hot and cool. Annual rainfall is high at about 2,300 mm, with a tendency toward somewhat more rain around December to February. As it is summer all year, light clothing plus sun and squall protection is the basic approach.
| Month | Avg ℃ | High ℃ | Low ℃ | Clothing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 30 | 24 | Light clothing such as short sleeves and shorts. A thin rain jacket for squall protection. | |
| 27 | 30 | 24 | Light clothing. Strong sun protection during the day (hat, sunscreen). | |
| 28 | 30 | 25 | Light clothing. A thin windbreaker for boarding the boat gives peace of mind. | |
| 28 | 31 | 25 | Light clothing. The hottest period, so stay frequently hydrated. | |
| 28 | 31 | 25 | Light clothing. Be fully prepared against the sun. | |
| 28 | 31 | 25 | Light clothing. There is little shade on board, so a long-sleeve rash guard is recommended. | |
| 28 | 31 | 25 | Light clothing. Sun protection plus breathable clothing. | |
| 28 | 31 | 25 | Light clothing. Dry season is comfortable; beware of strong sun. | |
| 28 | 31 | 25 | Light clothing. Sea conditions tend to be stable in this period. Take sun protection. | |
| 28 | 31 | 25 | Light clothing. Carry a thin rain jacket in case of squalls. | |
| 28 | 31 | 25 | Light clothing. Rain begins to increase, so bring rain gear. | |
| 27 | 30 | 25 | Light clothing. The rainy season begins with more rain, so take waterproofing measures. |
| Class | Property | Price (approx) | Highlights | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-end | Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort（シパダン・カパライ・ダイブリゾート） | — | About 50 luxury overwater chalets built on the sandbar of Kapalai. Each room has an ocean-view balcony. 5 min by boat from Mabul, 10 min from Sipadan. Boat transfer via Tawau Airport - Semporna port. For honeymooners and divers | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| High-end | Mabul Water Bungalows（マブール・ウォーター・バンガロー） | — | Luxury overwater bungalows on Mabul Island (about 24 units). Glass floors and sea-facing balconies offer sunset views. Up to 3 dives a day can be arranged to Sipadan and other sites. Boat access from Semporna port | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| High-end | Borneo Divers Mabul Resort（ボルネオ・ダイバーズ・マブールリゾート） | — | An upmarket dive resort along the beach of Mabul Island. Private chalets with a pool. Run by a long-established dive company. Boat from Semporna port | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Standard | Scuba Junkie Mabul Beach Resort（スキューバ・ジャンキー・マブールビーチリゾート） | — | A PADI 5-star dive resort on the beachfront of Mabul Island. All 30 rooms (VIP to dormitory), all meals included, with a restaurant and bar. Committed to marine conservation. Boat from Semporna port | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Standard | Seafest Hotel Semporna（シーフェスト・ホテル） | About US$80 per night as a guide | The first and one of the largest business hotels in the town of Semporna. Located in the town center, convenient as a base for tours to the various islands | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Standard | Dragon Inn Floating Resort（ドラゴンイン・フローティングリゾート） | About US$41-52 per night as a guide | A wooden overwater hotel built on the sea. Just a few steps to the port and night market, with a good location as the departure point for many tours to the surrounding islands | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Budget | Sipadan Inn III（シパダン・イン3） | About MYR60-150 per night as a guide | Just about a 1-minute walk to the pier of Semporna port. A clean in-town hotel with air conditioning, hot showers, and free WiFi | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Budget | Sipadan Inn II（シパダン・イン2） | About MYR60-150 per night as a guide | About a 5-minute walk to Semporna port. Air conditioning, hot showers, free WiFi, and friendly staff make it clean and comfortable | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Budget | Ocean Inn Semporna（オーシャン・イン） | About MYR60-150 per night as a guide | An affordable hotel in the town of Semporna. Comfortable rooms with air conditioning and free WiFi. Easy access to the port and market | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Name | Cuisine | Budget | Highlights | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fish Village Seafood Restaurant | Seafood | — | Popular for fresh seafood. The staff are friendly and the cooking has a good reputation | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Then Wang Seafood Restaurant | Seafood (Chinese-style) | Affordable | An extensive menu at reasonable prices. Good service, and as a popular spot, an early visit is recommended | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Fat Mom's Restaurant | Local (Bajau cuisine) | Affordable | An authentic Bajau cuisine restaurant in central Semporna. Popular with backpackers and locals and easy on the wallet | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Family Cafe | Malay cuisine | Affordable | For when you want traditional Malay food other than seafood. Grilled fish served with sambal and nasi lemak are well regarded. Family-friendly | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| シーフロント（海沿いエスプラネード）の中華系シーフード店群 | Seafood (Chinese-style) | — | A seafront area that comes alive at night. Chinese-style restaurants where you can pick live fish and seafood from tanks line up, and live bands sometimes perform | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
* A “seasonal posting trend” based on public social posts we track (3 accounts, period 2023-02–2026-06, 15 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.