Sumatra Fishing Spots

Sumatra is bounded to the west by the Indian Ocean and to the east by the shallower waters of the Java Sea and the Malacca Straits. Northern Sumatra juts into the Andaman Sea. Off the west coast is an archipelago chain, of which the largest and most accessible island is Pulau Nias.


Charter operations consisting of longboats exist in some of the more popular tourist destinations. Pulau Nias is one of these, as it is quite famous for excellent surfing. Sumatra has numerous regional airports; the international facility at Medan is the biggest.

Lake Toba in the Barisian Mountains is a popular and prominent tourist destination about 180 kilometers south of Medan. Covering 1,145 square kilometers, Toba is the largest lake in Indonesia; it features steep mountain cliffs, sandy beaches, and large Samosir Island. The freshwater angling potential here and throughout this island is poorly documented, but its numerous ponds and lakes contain the ubiquitous carp and catfish.

Blue water sportfishing is confined to the west and north of Sumatra, where there is deep water close inshore. Black marlin and sailfish have been recorded in many parts, and yellowfin tuna, dogtooth tuna, wahoo, narrowbarred mackerel, giant trevally, mahimahi, and barracuda, together with a host of smaller species, can all be expected. Fishing is best in October, November, April, and May, before and after the rainy season.

Eastern Sumatra has much shallower water and extensive mangroves and tidal inlets. Mangrove jacks, queenfish, barramundi, threadfin salmon, and various species of trevally are present in these waterways, but they are heavily fished, trapped, and netted, as Sumatra is heavily populated. Because the banks are largely inaccessible, casting lures from small boats is the only way to gain access to much of this fishing.

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