Where to start: The Beginner’s Guide to Fishing in Malaysia

If you’re a beginner whether with little or no experience, and with no specific style of fishing, some of my recommendations would be to socialise.

Fishing is a social activity and you won’t get far just fishing alone, at least not all the time.

Fishing Ponds (Public or Stocked/pay ponds)

This can be an excellent place to meet other like-minded anglers. Scan the pond when you arrive. Place yourself next to, but not too close!, to people you feel may be more friendly.

Look out for opportunities to strike up some friendly conversations, especially if you see them catch fish. Help them if they need help like net fish or observe and ask if they need help.

Be humble and ask questions, like what bait are they using. How did they do this or that? Ask about the gear they’re using. Many anglers like to share knowledge and some like to show off their gear. If they’re unfriendly, move on. They’re probably not people you want as friends either.

It may take more than one outing but you should eventually make some new friends.

Online Groups

Facebook is a good place to look. Malaysians are generally pretty active in Facebook and there are many fishing groups in there.

Try to join as many groups as possible and find which ones work best for you. Comment on other’s posts, share your own and ask questions. That usually gets things going.

Social Media

Go online and see what people are sharing. Slowly find the locals. Go to YouTube, Facebook and instagram and leave comments and questions. See where that leads you, usually from one individual to a group online or even gatherings.

Once you get conversations going online, be on the lookout for trips that are being organised. Get on those trips if possible. It’d be nice to catch some fish but remember, your main goal is to make new friends and learn. The catching part is lower down on the priority list.

Tackle Shops

You’ll probably need a bit of luck and leg work with this one. Not to mention potentially spending some money!

Some tackle shop owners/operators/staff may be more friendly than others.

If you spend some money there, some may even offer you a cup of coffee and you can sit there and chit chat, talk fish stories. Always try to be humble and not boast, nobody likes that.

If you hang around long enough especially on weekends, regular customers may walk in and you start getting to know them.

Fishing Events

Sadly, we’ve mostly lost the big fishing exhibitions the past years. But smaller fishing expos/events are being organised. They are often announced in Facebook.

Fishing competitions are another avenue. You don’t necessarily have to join, especially being a beginner (but don’t let that stop you!). Go as a spectator and mingle around.

Fishing Clubs

Unless you can find established or more professionally set up club that you can simply go online and ask to join as a member and start attending gatherings and meeting, this may be a little more tricky.

By following the above former recommendations by first making friends, it may be easier to get invited by your newfound fishing buddies into joining more informal fishing clubs or just groups.

Specialized Fishing Methods

If you are focused on certain fishing styles, such as pole fishing, coarse fishing, lure casting, tenkara or fly fishing – it may be a little easier to find your “group” or what us locals like to call “kaki”.

That’s because you share the exact same interest. You may not be doing that style yet, but you may choose to learn or pick up that style of fishing.

You can join specific special-interest groups or clubs in this case and may prove to be easier to make new friends. 

You may also possibly enroll in fishing or casting lessons.

You know something?

Writing everything above made me realise that trying to get into the fishing scene is not too dissimilar to looking for a date! What do you think? You go to the fishing pond instead of a bar and you strike up a conversation with someone “Do you come here often?” Haha.

Do you have any suggestions or experiences to share? Comment below and help out.