Best Times & Seasons to Fish in Malaysia (Complete Guide)

Malaysia offers unique fishing opportunities. Knowing the best times and seasons to fish in the waters near Malaysia helps anglers plan the perfect fishing trip.

The best times to fish in Malaysia are from April to October for barracuda, barramundi, peacock bass, coral trout, mahi-mahi, Indian threadfish, king mackerel, black marlin, queenfish, sailfish, snapper, trevally, tuna, and wahoo. 

Malaysia is surrounded by water. The destination makes it possible to enjoy fishing in nearshore and offshore waters. Underwater reefs and wrecks in the local waters attract a lot of fish.

Best Time to Fish in Malaysia  

The best months for fishing in Malaysia depend on the region and the type of fish you are targeting. Generally, Malaysia experiences two monsoon seasons, which can affect fishing conditions.

On the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia (e.g., Kuala Lumpur), the best months for fishing are typically from February to April and August to September, during the dry season when the waters are clear and calm.

On the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia (e.g., Terengganu), the best time for fishing is typically from March to October, during the dry season when the seas are calmer. However, during the northeast monsoon season from November to February, fishing may still be possible in protected areas such as estuaries and lagoons.

In Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo, the best months for fishing are typically from April to September, during the dry season.

I spoke with 3 different fishing guides operating out of Puchong and one guide out of Subang Jaya to consult for this article. They recommend fishing in May through July for the best fishing action for barracuda, sailfish, barramundi, tuna, and snapper.

Malaysia Species Breakdown: Best Times

Barracuda

Barracuda fishing is excellent in Malaysia year-round. So, anglers can successfully catch barracuda in the local waters at any time of the year.

Barracuda get active in the early morning and in the late evening. Kuching is the ideal fishing spot for barracuda fishing.   

Carp

Carp fishing is good in Malaysia throughout the year. Anglers can successfully fish for carp in the region at any time of the year. Carp feed actively at dawn and at dusk.

Carp can be caught in the early morning, early evening, and night hours. Fish Valley Fishing Resort is the perfect place for anglers, who are interested in carp fishing.  

Black Marlin

The best months to catch black marlin in Malaysia are January – March, July – August, and November – December. Black marlin are active during the morning hours. It makes sense to target black marlin in the waters near Tioman Island.  

King Mackerel

It’s possible to fish for king mackerel in waters near Malaysia at any time of the year. However, king mackerel fishing is best in January, July – August, and October – December.

King mackerel bites well at dawn and at dusk. The Racha Islands attract anglers, who would like to catch king mackerel in the local waters.   

Mahi-Mahi

Mahi-mahi is active in waters near Malaysia year-round. Mahi-mahi fishing is the most productive in January – February and in June – December.

Mahi-mahi feeds actively at night when the moon is full. Also, anglers can catch mahi-mahi in the middle of the day. It would be great to visit Kuala Rompin if you want to catch mahi-mahi.   

Peacock Bass

The best season to catch peacock bass in Malaysia starts in April and ends in August. Peacock bass is active in the morning and in the late afternoon. It’s recommended to fish for peacock bass in the waters near Selangor. 

Sailfish

The best times of the year to catch sailfish in Malaysia are January – March, June – August, and November – December. Rompin Malaysia is one of the best fishing spots to catch sailfish. Sailfish is active early in the morning. Sailfish can be found in the waters near Kuala Rompin.    

Trevally

Trevally fishing in Malaysia is the most productive in March – April and in October – December. Trevally feeds actively at dawn and at dusk. Kuching is one of the best trevally fishing destinations in Malaysia.  

Queenfish

The queenfish fishing season in Malaysia starts in February and ends in October. The best time of the year to catch queenfish in the local waters is April – July. Queenfish is active from the afternoon until dusk. Anglers successfully catch queenfish near Port Dickson.  

Wahoo

Wahoo fishing in Malaysia is best from January to March and from June to August and from November to December. Wahoo bites well at the first light. So, it would be better to go fishing in the local waters before sunrise. Wahoo can be caught in Malaysia’s Blue Ocean.    

Recommended Fishing Charters in Malaysia

These Malaysia-based charters are some of the best at putting you on great fishing action. The captains are knowledgeable and professional and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.

Recommended Fishing Charters	Location
Lunkerlink Fishing Guide	Puchong, Malaysia
Blue Oceans Charters – Kuala Rompin	Mersing, Malaysia
Lunkerlink Fishing Guide – Snakehead Fishing	Gerik, Malaysia
Pulau Jarak Boat Charter	Sitiawan, Malaysia

I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic if you want to create your combo.

Best Time of Day to Fish in Malaysia.

Malaysia is home to many fish species that feed actively at dawn and at dusk. That’s why it would be better to fish in Malaysia either in the morning or in the evening. 

It makes sense to fish in the local waters from dawn until 2 hours after sunrise in the morning. In the evening, anglers should aim to fish from 2 hours before sunset until dusk. Daylight is reduced, water temperatures drop down and fish get active during these hours.   

It would be great to fish Malaysia when the water approaches its highest or lowest points. Fishing in the local waters is best during the rising and falling tides. On the other hand, fishing is less productive when the water doesn’t move or moves slowly. 

Heavy rains make it difficult to fish in the local waters. It rains a lot in the region from January to May and from October to December. 

Storms make fishing challenging and pose the risk to anglers. That’s why fishing trips are canceled during storm season. Storms may occur in Malaysia in April – May and in October – November.  

If the weather allows, anglers can enjoy fishing in the region during the winter months. Winter fishing in Malaysia can be very productive. In winter, it’s possible to target catfish, black marlin, mahi-mahi, king mackerel, sailfish, trevally, tuna, and wahoo.

It’s a great idea to fish Malaysia during night hours. For example, it’s possible to take a boat and enjoy night fishing in the waters near the islands of Langkawi. 

Summer is a great time of the year to fish Malaysia at night. Anglers can avoid heat during the hot summer days and, most importantly, achieve great results during night fishing trips. 

Catfish, carp, trout, and king mackerel can be caught in Malaysia during night hours. Anglers can also target species that feed actively prior to sunrise and after sunset when fishing at night. 

Best Seasons to Book a Malaysia Charter

Fishing in Malaysia is possible throughout the year.

Spring

Spring is the beginning of the fishing season in Malaysia. The weather is good, so the ideal conditions for fishing are created in the region during the spring months. Barracuda get active in the local waters in the early spring.

Anglers also have a chance to catch barramundi, cobia, coral trout, Indian threadfish, trevally and queenfish, and other fish species in Malaysia during the spring months. Fishing near underwater reefs and wrecks and near the islands in the South China Sea is very productive in the late spring.   

Summer

It can be rainy in Malaysia in the early summer. However, fishing is excellent. In June, anglers can target barramundi, trevally, and queenfish. It would be better to go fishing in offshore waters in July.

If you go further offshore, you’ll have a chance to catch kingfish, mahi-mahi, marlin, sailfish, and wahoo. The Riau Islands are the perfect place to go fishing in the late summer.  

Fall

Fishing in offshore waters is less productive in Malaysia in the early fall. However, it’s still possible to catch mahi-mahi successfully. It usually rains a lot in the region during the fall months. The Strait of Malacca is one of the best places to fish the local waters in the fall.

Here, anglers can target cobia, barracuda, and trevally. Anglers, who give preference to fly fishing, can visit the festival that takes place in Kuala Lumpur in October.

Fish can be found closer to shore in the late fall. Anglers can successfully target cobia, catfish, and mackerel in the local waters in November. Keep in mind that the late fall is rainy and cold.    

Winter

The weather is rainy in the region in the early winter. However, it rains in the middle of the day. So, anglers can go fishing in the morning. The main targets in December are catfish, cobia, groupers, and snappers.

In January, it makes sense to target cobia and Spanish mackerel in the local waters. The late winter is a great time of the year to fish for coral trout in the waters near Malaysia.   

Top Fishing Spots in Malaysia

Kuching

Kuching is one of the most popular fishing destinations near Malaysia. Fishing near reefs and wrecks is very productive in the area. The fishing season in Kuching starts in the early spring and ends in the early fall. The main targets in the local waters are barracuda, cobia, and trevally. 

Gerik

Gerik is another popular fishing location in Malaysia. Here, anglers mainly fish in lakes and rivers. Fishing in Gerik is best from September to December. Snakehead fish is the main target in the local waters.

Kuala Rompin

Kuala Rompin is one of the best fishing destinations in Malaysia. Fishing in Kuala Rompin is good from April to October. Among fish species that anglers can catch in the waters near Kuala Rompin are barracuda, cobia, mahi-mahi, sailfish, and others. 

Port Dickson

Port Dickson is also a good place to visit. Fishing in Port Dickson is great throughout the year. However, fishing in Port Dickson is the most productive during the summer months. When fishing in Port Dickson, anglers can target barracuda, queenfish, and trevally.  

Port Klang

Port Klang is the perfect place to target cobia, black seabass, red snapper, and many other fish species.   

Shore/Surf Fishing: Best Times & Seasons

Anglers can do surf fishing on Malaysian beaches. Shore fishing allows anglers to catch groupers, snappers, and other species.

The west coast of Malaysia attracts a lot of shore anglers. It’s important to note that the current is very fast in the west coast area in spring. That’s why fishing from shore is tough. However, anglers can fish on the beaches of the South China Sea in the east coast of Malaysia during the spring months. 

The most popular fishing piers in Malaysia include Desaru Long Jetty, Pak Harun Fishing Jetty, Jetty Sungai Pelek, Port Peacock Bass, Jeti seriEmas Angler, Port Mengail M.F.Z and Pengkalan Nelayan Simpang Telok.         

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Bali, check out this article. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Indonesia, check out this article. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Guam, check out this guide.