OSRS Money Making Fishing Guide 2025 Best Methods

OSRS Money Making Fishing Guide 2025 Best Methods

Fishing in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a relaxing, profitable skill that offers players a chance to earn gold while training. Whether you’re a free-to-play (F2P) or pay-to-play (P2P) player, this guide covers the best fishing money-making methods for 2025, optimized for profit and efficiency. From low-level to high-level methods, we’ll explore requirements, gear, and strategies to maximize your gold per hour (GP/h). Let’s dive into the top fishing methods to boost your bank!

Free-to-play players have limited options, but fishing remains a solid way to earn gold without membership. These methods are accessible to new players and require minimal investment.

Lobster Fishing (Level 40 Fishing)

Lobsters are a classic F2P money-making method, offering decent profits for low-to-mid-level players. You’ll need a lobster pot and access to a fishing spot like Musa Point on Karamja.

  • Location: Karamja (Musa Point)
  • Requirements: Level 40 Fishing, lobster pot, 30 GP per trip (or Corsair Curse quest for free trips)
  • Profit: ~20K–30K GP/h
  • XP: ~20K–25K Fishing XP/h

Strategy: Fish lobsters at Musa Point, bank them at Port Sarim’s deposit box, and sell on the Grand Exchange. Completing The Corsair Curse quest eliminates the 30 GP travel cost, boosting profits. At higher levels (60+), you’ll catch lobsters faster, increasing GP/h.

Swordfish and Tuna Fishing (Level 50 Fishing)

For players with slightly higher fishing levels, harpooning swordfish and tuna offers better profits than lobsters, though it’s slower due to mixed catches.

  • Location: Karamja or Corsair Cove Resource Area (after Corsair Curse and Dragon Slayer)
  • Requirements: Level 50 Fishing, harpoon
  • Profit: ~15K–25K GP/h
  • XP: ~15K–20K Fishing XP/h

Strategy: Fish at Karamja, banking at Port Sarim, or use Corsair Cove for free trips. Drop tuna to focus on swordfish for higher profits, or cook both if leveling Cooking. This method is AFK-friendly but less profitable than P2P options.

P2P Fishing Money Making Methods

OSRS Minnows Fishing Guide XP GP Per Hour

Pay-to-play players unlock a variety of lucrative fishing methods, especially at higher levels. These methods often require specific quests, gear, or diaries but offer significantly higher GP/h.

Monkfish Fishing (Level 62 Fishing)

Monkfish are a great starting point for P2P players, offering a balance of profit and AFK-ability after completing the Swan Song quest.

Strategy: Teleport to Piscatoris (e.g., using a Piscatoris teleport scroll), fish monkfish, and bank at the nearby bank. The proximity to a bank makes this method highly AFK and efficient. At level 70+, XP and profit rates improve slightly.

Minnow Fishing (Level 82 Fishing)

Minnows are a click-intensive but highly profitable method, as they can be exchanged for raw sharks, which sell well on the Grand Exchange.

  • Location: Fishing Guild (minnow platform)
  • Requirements: Level 82 Fishing, Angler’s outfit, small fishing net
  • Profit destroyed: ~250K–400K GP/h
  • XP: ~15K–25K Fishing XP/h

Strategy: Fish minnows at the Fishing Guild, exchanging them with Kylie Minnow for raw sharks (40 minnows per shark). The fishing spots move every 15 seconds, requiring attention, but minnows stack, eliminating banking. Equip Rada’s Blessing (from Kourend & Kebos Diary) for a 2–8% chance to catch extra fish, boosting profits.

High-Level P2P Fishing Methods

For players with 80+ Fishing, these methods offer the highest GP/h, though some come with risks or additional skill requirements.

Sacred Eels (Level 87 Fishing)

Sacred eels are one of the most profitable fishing methods, yielding Zulrah’s scales, which are in high demand for PVM activities.

Strategy: Fish sacred eels in Zul-Andra, then use a knife to dissect them for Zulrah’s scales (3–9 scales per eel, scaling with Cooking level). Scales are stackable, so no banking is needed. At 96 Cooking, you can expect ~7 scales per eel, yielding up to 440K GP/h. Bring weight-reducing gear and food for efficiency.

Infernal Eels (Level 80 Fishing)

Infernal eels are an AFK-friendly method that yields Tokkul, onyx bolt tips, and lava scale shards, ideal for players with a Fire Cape.

Strategy: Fish infernal eels in Mor Ul Rek, then smash them with a hammer to extract Tokkul (save for an uncut onyx at 300K Tokkul), onyx bolt tips, and lava scale shards. No banking is required, making this extremely AFK. Profits vary due to the RNG of drops, but it’s a low-effort option.

Dark Crabs (Level 85 Fishing)

Dark crabs offer high profits but come with the risk of player killers (PKers) since they’re caught in the Wilderness.

  • Location: Wilderness Resource Area
  • Requirements: Level 85 Fishing, Elite Wilderness Diary (recommended), lobster pot, dark fishing bait, 15.4K GP/h for noting
  • Profit: ~300K–350K GP/h
  • XP: ~30K–40K Fishing XP/h

Strategy: Fish dark crabs in the Resource Area, noting them with Piles (50 GP per crab). Bank frequently at Edgeville to minimize losses from PKers. Equip cheap defensive gear, a slash weapon for webs, and bring Saradomin brews for safety. The Elite Wilderness Diary boosts catch rates, significantly increasing profits.

Essential Gear and Boosts for Fishing

Maximizing your fishing profits requires the right gear and boosts. Here’s what you need to optimize your money-making:

Angler’s Outfit

Obtained from the Fishing Trawler minigame, the Angler’s outfit provides a 2.5% XP boost per fish caught, indirectly increasing catch rates and profits. It’s required for minnow fishing and highly recommended for all methods.

Rada’s Blessing

Earned from the Kourend & Kebos Diary, Rada’s Blessing (easy to elite) gives a 2–8% chance to catch an extra fish without additional XP, boosting GP/h. Equip it for all fishing methods.

Fish Barrel

Obtained from Tempoross, the fish barrel stores up to 28 raw fish, reducing banking trips and increasing AFK time. It’s especially useful for monkfish, dark crabs, and Karambwan fishing.

Comparing Fishing Money Making Methods

Choosing the right method depends on your Fishing level, membership status, and risk tolerance. Below is a comparison of the top methods:

Method Fishing Level Profit (GP/h) XP/h (Fishing) AFK-ability Risk
Lobsters (F2P) 40 20K–30K 20K–25K High None
Swordfish/Tuna (F2P) 50 15K–25K 15K–20K High None
Monkfish 62 80K–100K 30K–40K High None
Minnows 82 250K–400K 15K–25K Low None
Sacred Eels 87 300K–440K 20K High Low
Infernal Eels 80 200K–250K 28K High None
Dark Crabs 85 300K–350K 30K–40K High High (PKers)

Tips for Maximizing Profits

To get the most out of fishing for money in OSRS, follow these tips:

  • Check Grand Exchange Prices: Fish prices fluctuate, so monitor the GE before investing in bait or supplies.

  • Use Boosts: Equip Rada’s Blessing and the Angler’s outfit to increase catch rates and XP.
  • Complete Diaries: The Elite Wilderness Diary (for dark crabs) and Kourend & Kebos Diary (for Rada’s Blessing) significantly boost profits.
  • Minimize Risk: For dark crabs, bank frequently and avoid bringing valuable items to the Wilderness.

  • Combine Skills: Methods like sacred eels also train Cooking, providing dual-skill XP and profit.

Fishing in OSRS is a versatile skill that caters to both casual and dedicated players. Whether you’re fishing lobsters in F2P or sacred eels in P2P, there’s a method for every level and playstyle. Start with monkfish or lobsters for low-effort gold, or aim for sacred eels and dark crabs for top-tier profits. With the right gear and strategy, you’ll be stacking gold in no time. Happy fishing!