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F2P Fishing Spots OSRS Ultimate Guide for 2025

Fishing in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a relaxing yet rewarding skill, especially for free-to-play (F2P) players looking to level up, make gold, or gather food for combat. This comprehensive guide explores the best F2P fishing spots in OSRS, detailing locations, fish types, experience rates, and profitability. Whether you’re aiming for level 99 Fishing or just need some raw lobsters, we’ve got you covered with practical tips and strategies.
Fishing is a core skill in OSRS that unlocks quests, provides food for PvM, and offers decent gold-making opportunities. For F2P players, it’s one of the most accessible skills to train, requiring minimal investment in equipment. Plus, it’s semi-AFK, making it perfect for casual players or those multitasking. Key benefits include:
- Quest Requirements: Fishing levels are needed for quests like Recipe for Disaster (level 53 for Barrows Gloves).
- Food Source: Fish like lobsters and swordfish are vital for PvM and PvP.
- Profit: Selling raw fish at the Grand Exchange can yield steady income.
- Low Cost: Basic equipment like nets and rods is cheap or free.
Essential Fishing Equipment for F2P
Before diving into the best spots, let’s cover the equipment you’ll need. F2P fishing relies on a few simple tools, all available at fishing shops like the one in Port Sarim.
Types of Equipment
- Small Fishing Net: Used for shrimp and anchovies. Free from Tutorial Island or spawns at fishing spots.
- Fishing Rod and Bait: For sardines, herring, and pike. Costs ~5-10 GP; bait is ~3 GP each.
- Fly Fishing Rod and Feathers: For trout and salmon. Rod costs ~5 GP; feathers are ~2-3 GP each.
- Lobster Pot: For lobsters. Costs ~40 GP.
- Harpoon: For tuna and swordfish. Costs ~20-30 GP.
Where to Buy Equipment
Visit Gerrant’s Fishy Business in Port Sarim or the fishing tutor south of Lumbridge for supplies. Feathers can also be collected from chickens or bought at the Grand Exchange.
Best F2P Fishing Spots by Level
F2P fishing spots are scattered across Gielinor, each suited to specific fish and levels. Below, we break down the top locations based on accessibility, experience rates, and profitability.
Levels 1-20: Shrimp and Anchovies
Start your fishing journey with a small fishing net to catch shrimp (level 1) and anchovies (level 15). These spots are ideal for beginners due to their proximity to banks and low requirements.
Location | Details | XP/Hour |
---|---|---|
Draynor Village | South of the bank, near willow trees. Safe and close to a bank. | 1,500-2,000 |
Al Kharid | South of the bank. Watch for level 14 scorpions that may interrupt. | 1,500-2,000 |
Lumbridge | South of the graveyard, near the fishing tutor. Free nets spawn here. | 1,500-2,000 |
Tip: Drop fish for faster XP (powerfishing) or bank them at Draynor for profit (~14,400-26,880 GP/hour for shrimp).
Levels 20-40: Trout and Salmon
At level 20, switch to fly fishing for trout, and at level 30, you’ll also catch salmon. These offer the fastest XP in F2P all the way to 99, especially with powerfishing.
Top Spots
- Barbarian Village: East of the village, near the River Lum. Permanent fire nearby for cooking. Bank at Edgeville or use a waka canoe (level 57 Woodcutting) to Ferox Enclave.
- Lumbridge: River Lum in the town center. Chop logs nearby to make a fire for cooking. Bank at Lumbridge Castle.
XP Rates: ~15,000 XP/hour at level 20, increasing to ~33,000 XP/hour at higher levels with salmon. For tick manipulation (advanced), bring an axe, tinderbox, and cook fish to eat for ~80,000 XP/hour, though it’s click-intensive.
Profit vs. XP
Powerfishing (dropping fish) maximizes XP, while banking fish at Lumbridge or cooking at Barbarian Village yields ~18,000-26,000 Cooking XP/hour. Raw trout sells for ~50 GP, salmon for ~70 GP.
Levels 40-99: Lobsters
At level 40, you can catch lobsters, which are great for food and profit but slower for XP compared to fly fishing.
Best Spot: Musa Point (Karamja)
The pier at Musa Point is the go-to F2P lobster spot. Use a lobster pot and bring 30 GP for the boat ride to/from Port Sarim.
- Banking: Sail back to Port Sarim and use the deposit box near the Entrana monks or bank in Draynor. Costs 30 GP per trip.
- Selling: Sell to the general store at Musa Point for quick cash if not banking.
- XP Rates: 20,000-30,000 XP/hour.
- Profit: ~30,000-40,000 GP/hour (raw lobsters sell for ~150-200 GP each).
Alternative: Corsair Cove Resource Area
After completing Dragon Slayer I and The Corsair Curse, fish lobsters at Corsair Cove. It has a bank nearby, eliminating boat costs, and a cooking fire to the south. XP and profit rates are similar to Musa Point.
Levels 50-99: Tuna and Swordfish
At level 50, use a harpoon to catch tuna and swordfish, which are profitable but slow for XP. These are ideal for players prioritizing gold or food.
Top Spots
- Musa Point (Karamja): Same pier as lobsters. Drop tuna (low value) and bank swordfish at Port Sarim/Draynor. ~17,000 XP/hour, ~18,000 GP/hour (swordfish ~400 GP each).
- Corsair Cove Resource Area: Post-Dragon Slayer I, fish here for easy banking. Same XP/profit rates.
Tip: Swordfish are slower to catch than lobsters, so stick to fly fishing for XP or lobsters for balanced XP/profit.
Advanced Tips for F2P Fishing
Maximize your efficiency with these strategies tailored for F2P players.
Powerfishing for XP
Drop fish instead of banking to stay at the spot longer. Use shift-click to drop items quickly. Fly fishing trout/salmon at Barbarian Village is the best powerfishing method (~33,000 XP/hour at high levels).
Tick Manipulation
For dedicated players, 3-tick fishing at Lumbridge’s fly fishing spots can yield ~80,000 XP/hour. Chop logs, make a fire, cook fish, and eat them to manipulate game ticks. Requires an axe, tinderbox, and high focus.
Boosting Profit
Sell fish at the Grand Exchange for maximum profit. Check prices regularly, as they fluctuate (e.g., raw lobsters ~150-200 GP, swordfish ~400 GP). Banking at Corsair Cove saves time and boat fees.
Cooking Synergy
Combine fishing with cooking for dual XP. Use Barbarian Village’s permanent fire or make your own at Lumbridge. Cooked fish can be used for tick manipulation or sold (though less profitable than raw).
Which Spot Should You Choose?
Your choice depends on your goals:
- Fastest XP: Fly fish trout/salmon at Barbarian Village or Lumbridge. Use tick manipulation for up to 80,000 XP/hour.
- Best Profit: Fish lobsters at Corsair Cove (post-quests) or Musa Point. Swordfish are viable but slower.
- Balanced XP/Profit: Fish lobsters and bank at Corsair Cove or cook at Barbarian Village for Fishing and Cooking XP.
- AFK Training: Net fishing shrimp/anchovies or lobsters at Musa Point is low-effort but slower.
For most F2P players, fly fishing trout/salmon is the meta for 20-99 due to its high XP rates and simplicity. If you need gold or food, lobsters at Corsair Cove are ideal post-Dragon Slayer I.
Fishing in F2P OSRS is a grind, but with the right spots and strategies, you can make it efficient and rewarding. Start at Draynor for shrimp, move to Barbarian Village for trout, and hit Corsair Cove for lobsters or swordfish once quests are done. Happy fishing, and may your inventory always be full!