Kudat Sabah fishing forecast
Kudat Sabah is a saltwater fishing spot in Sabah Malaysia, Malaysia. Anglers here target Indo-Pacific Sailfish, Wahoo, Great Barracuda, Giant Trevally. The most productive months are typically April, May, June, July, August, September, October.
Today’s verdict
Ranks #100 of 437 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today
In line with this spot’s 7-day average
Score confidence ±4 points, from 8 live signals
The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.
Current conditions
| Sea surface temp | 30.8 °C |
|---|---|
| Wind | 18 km/h from NNW |
| Wave height | 0.3 m at 5 s |
| Current | 0.01 m/s toward W |
| Pressure | 1010 hPa |
| Depth | 12 m |
| Cloud cover | 34% |
| Chlorophyll | 1.68 mg/m³ |
| Salinity | 32.3 PSU |
| Mixed-layer depth | 19 m |
| UV index | 9 |
| Wind sea | 0.0 m at 1 s |
| Ground swell | 0.2 m at 5 s from NW |
| Current shear (surface vs 50 m) | 0.01 → 0.00 m/s |
The water here is 2.7 °C warmer than the September average of 28.0 °C. Warmer-than-normal water pushes cool-water species deeper and brings warm-water species in earlier than the calendar suggests. The water is mixed to about 39.3 m, with the thermocline below that.
Updated 1 h ago.
What the score means at Kudat Sabah
Kudat Sabah currently scores 82 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 30.8 °C. 8 forecast signals are active in this score.
- Water temperature +25.0
- how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
- Chlorophyll +18.0
- plankton density — the base of the food chain
- Waves +9.0
- swell energy stirring the water column
- Wind +8.0
- surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
- Thermocline +4.0
- a defined layer stacks fish at one depth
- Pre-storm bite +3.5
- the classic feed before heavy weather
What’s biting now
The model expects today: great-barracuda, giant-trevally, wahoo, albacore, pacific-albacore, bonefish, almaco-jack, rainbow-runner
Bite windows
Best months for Kudat Sabah:
Score history at this spot
30 days tracked at this exact location
Best recent day: 2026-08-20, 88/100
24 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period
4 points below the same day last week
About this spot
Open coastal saltwater — conditions and safety depend heavily on the live wind, wave, and tide forecast, so check them before you head out.
Approximate bottom depth: 12 m
Access & shore
Fishable from shore · offshore-only
What you can catch
-
Istiophorus platypterus
-
Acanthocybium solandri
-
Sphyraena barracuda
-
Caranx ignobilis
Best months by species at Kudat Sabah
| Indo-Pacific SailfishIstiophorus platypterus | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WahooAcanthocybium solandri | ||||||||||||
| Great BarracudaSphyraena barracuda | ||||||||||||
| Giant TrevallyCaranx ignobilis |
Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.
Local regulations
Licensing:
- saltwater-recreational — residents The Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF) does NOT issue a recreational angler's fishing licence. Recreational rod-and-line angling in open waters is not separately licensed by DOF, but you may not fish inside a gazetted Marine Park, and protected species may never be taken. DOF operates a recreational fisheries registration system (eRekreasi) for recreational fishing activity/vessels — register and confirm requirements there. Operators who carry anglers for hire are licensed by the Marine Department (Jabatan Laut), not DOF., non-residents Visiting anglers are subject to the same rules: no fishing inside Marine Parks, no taking of protected species, and a conservation charge applies when entering a Marine Park area. Confirm vessel/charter requirements with the Marine Department and your local State Fisheries Office before fishing.
FishRadar regulations are summaries for informational purposes only. In Malaysia, marine fishing is governed by the Fisheries Act 1985 and rules made under it, and by State, Marine Park and licensing authorities — rules vary by location and can change. Fishing and all extraction are PROHIBITED inside gazetted Marine Parks (generally within 2 nautical miles of an island), where a conservation charge applies. Protected species (whale shark, sawfish, certain sharks and rays, marine turtles and marine mammals) may never be taken. The Department of Fisheries does not issue a recreational angler's licence; operators carrying anglers are licensed by the Marine Department. Always verify current rules with the Department of Fisheries Malaysia and your local State Fisheries Office before fishing — FishRadar is not a legal source.
Check Kudat Sabah before you go
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Nearby spots
Explore 7 more fishing spots within 1883 km of Kudat Sabah.
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Sabah Sulu Sea Malaysia
Pulau Tioman South China Sea
Rompin
Kuala Rompin Malaysia
Perhentian Islands
Sungai Perak Malaysia
Langkawi Andaman Malaysia
Frequently asked questions
What fish can you catch at Kudat Sabah?
Anglers at Kudat Sabah target Indo-Pacific Sailfish, Wahoo, Great Barracuda and Giant Trevally.
When is the best time to fish Kudat Sabah?
The most productive months at Kudat Sabah are typically April, May, June, July, August, September, October.
What is the fishing forecast for Kudat Sabah right now?
Kudat Sabah currently scores 82 out of 100, based on live ocean and weather conditions — see the full breakdown on this page.
Can you fish Kudat Sabah from shore?
Yes — Kudat Sabah is fishable from shore (offshore-only).
Is the thermocline set up at Kudat Sabah right now?
Not strongly right now — the water column is fairly mixed, so fish are less depth-locked.
How deep is the water at Kudat Sabah?
The scored point sits over roughly 12 m of water. Depth shapes which species hold here and how the thermocline forms.
Fishing guides for this spot
- How to Catch Wahoo: Chasing the Ocean's Fastest SprinterHow to Read Tides for FishingHow to Read a Fishing Forecast
Forecasts, not guarantees — check local rules before you fish.