Saltwater Fishing Spots in Southeast Asia

Scenic vacation spots, delectable cuisines and a vibrant, melting pot of cultural diversity - this is Southeast Asia. On top of these key identities, it is also home to many developing economies, spanning multiple industries from agriculture to technology. Its geographical features - a mixture of mountainous terrains, consistent rainforests and picturesque beaches - are indicative of an undeniable tropical beauty nowhere else to be found.

Because of its bountiful seas, Southeast Asia is an ideal place for saltwater fishing. Many species can be found swimming in its waters, which have also become staple source of food for natives.

Malaysia. Malaysia has plenty of saltwater fishing spots. Port Dickson, located near the country’s capital Kuala Lumpur, is known for its barred mackerel, diamond trevally, giant trevally and queenfish. Jarak Island, an ideal spot for jigging, has cobia and dog tooth tuna, among other species.

Anglers up for light jigging and bottom fishing may enjoy Tioman Island, which has swimmers like barracuda, barred mackerel, grouper and trevally. Tukun Perak, meanwhile, has a variety of pelagic species such as the yellowfin tuna, so it is also a great spot for saltwater fishing. Kuala Rompin is where anglers can get their hooks on the sailfish, the fastest fish on earth, during the season that usually starts in July and ends in October.

Indonesia. Beside Malaysia is the volcano-rich region of Indonesia, whose shores nevertheless make good saltwater fishing spots. West Papua, for instance, is ideal for finishing tuna. Maluku, which has depths of up to 5,000 meters, is also home to many varieties of fish. Surrounding the island of Karimunjawa are seas that boast of mackerel and snapper. Anglers can also visit the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra, where species such as giant trevally, grouper fish and red snapper, among others.

It must be noted, however, that Indonesia does not tolerate illegal fishing, as it recently made headlines when it blew up the last of the dubbed "Bandit 6" poaching vessels. Indonesia Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said, “This is to serve as a deterrent to others. You may go freely in the rest of the world, but once entering Indonesia, this is the consequence."

Philippines. The Philippines, an archipelago composed of over 7,000 islands, is certainly an ideal location for saltwater fishing. To start with, the historic Mactan Island in the province of Cebu houses a diverse array of game fish, including barracuda, dorado, mackerel, some tuna, trevally and wahoo. Siargao Islands, an emerging vacation spot, is home to many billfish, crabs, octopi, rays, squid and tuna. To the north, Calatagan, Batangas is habitable to the giant trevally and African pompano - its proximity to Manila, the country’s capital, must also be noted. Navotas City, part of the National Capital Region, is dubbed as the “Fishing Capital” of the nation.

These are just some of the many saltwater fishing spots you can visit in Southeast Asia. Areas in the South China Sea, Andaman Sea and others are also ideal to get those cravings satisfied. Remember to bring the right companion for successful fishing - EatMyTackle.com has everything you need.