Mahseer and Sebarau Fishing in Sabah Borneo

Sabah is an east Malaysia state located in the island of Borneo. It is a popular holiday destination famous for its natural beauty.

Some of the biggest attractions in Sabah are:

Climbing Mount Kinabalu – one of the tallest peak in Southeast Asia
The endangered orang utan
The pygmy elephant
Scuba diving in sipadan island – one of the top dive sites in the world

Besides fishing in its surrounding seas, Sabah’s jungle rivers are also home to the much revered hard-pulling mahseer (local name pelian) and hampala (sebarau).

Some coastal estuarine rivers in Sabah are also popular for Borneo black bass fishing.

RELATED: Mahseer fishing in Thailand

Check out some Sabah fishing images

*Kelland with a beautiful Sabah mahseer on a lure*

Bait cast or spinning outfits work well in these rvers

Fly fishing is also a popular method for catching mahseer in the Sabah rivers

Family photo for this American family during their first Sabah jungle experience

Other than mahseer, the two-striped hampala barb are also a popular game fish in the same rivers.

Many Sabah rivers are known for their “Tagal”.

What is a Tagal?

In summary, the Tagal system is a fishery resource management which involves local community and the Fisheries Department of Fisheries.

Depending on the location, populated rivers are divided into red and yellow zones.

Red zone = fishing is prohibited
Yellow zone = fishing/harvesting is allowed 1 to 3 times a year

Suspension bridges are a common sight in Sabah

Fish feeding at one of the conservation areas

*These fish will take food off of your hands*

More Food Experiences

A fishing trip is not complete without experiencing the different local food delicacies. Malaysia is a food paradise and Sabah is no exception, offering their own styles and tastes.