Fishing Spots ＞ Sumatra
2 captains listed · sea category. A spot in Telo Islands (Sumatra) targeting GT/Billfish/Tuna/Wahoo. Check the tide, captains and recent catches, then contact them directly via public social accounts. Access, climate and lodging are in the details below.
The Telo Islands (Pulau Tello / Pulau-pulau Batu = Batu Islands) are a remote island group in the Indian Ocean off South Nias, North Sumatra (South Nias Regency, about 101 islands). The gateway is Nias Island. The usual route is to first fly from Medan (Kualanamu Airport KNO) to Nias's Binaka Airport (GNS / Gunungsitoli) on Wings Air, then travel overland to Teluk Dalam at the southern tip, and cross to Telo by ferry or boat. There is also a route flying directly to Pulau Batu by Susi Air small aircraft from Gunungsitoli / Padang (3 flights per week). Surf and GT island resorts are dotted around, and getting to nearby waters and surf points is basically done by boat.
| From | Route | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medan (Kualanamu Airport KNO) | To Nias on Wings Air (ATR72) | About 56 min (6 flights per week) | Arrives at Nias's Binaka Airport (GNS / Gunungsitoli). Operated on the order of 36 flights per week. |
| Gunungsitoli (Binaka Airport GNS) | Overland to Teluk Dalam, then ferry / boat to Telo | Teluk Dalam in South Nias is the boat departure point. | |
| Teluk Dalam (South Nias) | Ferry (departs 11:00, no service Sundays) / boat to Pulau Tello | About 6 hours, ferry 2 times per week | Fare around IDR 60,000 (bought on board). Telo (Pulau Tello) is the main island and main town. |
| Gunungsitoli / Padang | Direct to Pulau Batu by Susi Air small aircraft | About 45 min (3 flights per week: Mon, Wed, Fri) | Some resorts use a charter flight from the mainland or a speedboat from Padang. |
Coordinates: 0.05, 98.3（Open in Google Maps）
GT/Billfish/Tuna/Wahoo
The best for surfing and fishing is April-October during the dry season (especially April-September). June-August, when the Indian Ocean's ground swell and offshore winds are stable, is the most reliable, with waves on the order of 4-12 feet. This is also the time to aim for GT and other fishing as fine, calm weather increases. The rainy season (October-April) has unstable swell and weather, and waves tend to weaken.
◎ peak: Jun–Aug · ○ in season: Apr–Oct
See what else is in season now →
For GT Billfish Tuna Wahoo 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 rainforest climate with no distinct dry season, hot and humid year-round (highs around 27-31°C). Facing the Indian Ocean, swell comes in easily. The rainy season is roughly October to April with increased rainfall (most in October-November), while June-July is relatively the driest. The figures are representative monthly averages for Nias Island.
| Month | Avg ℃ | High ℃ | Low ℃ | Clothing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 29 | 22 | Light clothing such as short sleeves and shorts. Rain gear for squalls. | |
| 26 | 30 | 22 | Light clothing such as short sleeves and shorts. Sun protection. | |
| 27 | 30 | 23 | Light, breathable fabrics. Rain gear. | |
| 27 | 30 | 24 | Light clothing. Rain gear essential with heavier rainfall. | |
| 26 | 29 | 23 | Light, quick-drying. Drying out begins, comfortable. | |
| 25 | 28 | 22 | Light clothing. Relatively dry; protection from wind and swell at sea. | |
| 25 | 27 | 22 | Light clothing. Coolest time of year; a layer at sea. | |
| 25 | 28 | 22 | Light, quick-drying. Protection from sun and swell. | |
| 26 | 29 | 22 | Light clothing. Somewhat more rainfall; rain gear. | |
| 27 | 30 | 23 | Light clothing. Wettest month of the year; solid rain gear. | |
| 27 | 31 | 23 | Light clothing. Rainy and muggy; rain gear and sun protection. | |
| 26 | 30 | 22 | Light clothing. Rainy season, rain gear essential. |
| Class | Property | Price (approx) | Highlights | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-end | Telo Island Lodge | About US$2,600-6,000 per package (all meals and boat included / 10-12 days) | A premium fly-in surf resort on Sibranun Island. Capacity of 8 guests, guide ratio 4:1. All 4 rooms air-conditioned, with the famous wave Max's Right just 80 m in front of the lodge. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| High-end | Telo Islands Resort (Latitude Zero) | — | A premium resort in the Latitude Zero family. An all-meals-included surf stay with access to a hydroponic garden and the local Telo seafood market (mud crab, etc.). | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| High-end | Telo Ranch | — | A small-group resort on Sipika Island. Maximum 6 guests, minimum 12 nights / 11 days. Caters to 25+ waves and fishing, snorkeling, and cultural tours. Meals from its own garden and seafood included. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Standard | Telo Surf Villa | — | Stable, mechanical barrel waves right in front of the villa (2 min walk). Caters to small groups for a flexible, personal stay. Swell can be checked from the deck. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Standard | Telos Surfing Village | About US$495 per group per night (1 surfer + 1 non-surfer), about US$525 for 2 surfers | A surf-oriented stay in the Telo Islands. Mid-range surf-camp-style lodging with all meals included. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Standard | First Inn (Pulau Tello) | — | A small hotel about 1 km south of Tello port. All 11 rooms (8 standard with shared bath, 2 deluxe en-suite, 1 suite). Can arrange island, fishing, and airport transfers. Popular with domestic guests and official business travelers. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Budget | Telo Island Surf House | Rp 400,000-600,000 per person per night (about US$25-35 / 3 meals and drinking water included) | A budget surf lodge. A seaside stilt-built wooden 4-bedroom house with 180-degree ocean views. Shared rooms for 2 per room, 3 meals included. Up to about 8 people to avoid crowding. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Budget | Café Setia のゲストハウス | — | A family-run simple guesthouse behind Café Setia on the right side of the road, 300 m south of the ferry port. An affordable stay in town. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Budget | Pulau Tello のローカル・ロスメン/ホームステイ | — | Telos has about 6 foreign-owned resorts versus about 10 local guesthouses. From small hotels to very simple homestays, numbers have grown in recent years. Scattered around the port and bazaar. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Name | Cuisine | Budget | Highlights | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Café Setia | Café / local diner | — | 300 m south of the ferry port, on the right side of the road. The same family also runs a guesthouse. One of the few places to eat in town. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| Warung Lesehan Pak Eko | Warung (Indonesian casual eatery) | — | A local warung on Pulau Tello. Affordable Indonesian food. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
| 各サーフリゾート併設ダイニング(Telo Island Lodge / Latitude Zero / Telo Ranch 等) | Resort-attached (mainly local seafood) | Included in the stay package (all meals included) | All-meals-included dining using mud crab and coastal fish from the local Telo seafood market and produce from the resorts' own and hydroponic gardens. For guests. | Google reviewsTripAdvisor |
Nearby spots easy to combine into one trip (straight-line distance). See the map above for locations.