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Best Fishing Money Making OSRS
Fishing in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a relaxing and profitable skill that offers players a chance to earn significant gold pieces (GP) while training. Whether you’re a free-to-play (F2P) or pay-to-play (P2P) player, fishing provides low-effort, AFK-friendly methods to stack your bank. This guide dives into the best fishing money-making methods for 2025, covering requirements, profits, and strategies to maximize your GP per hour. From sacred eels to dark crabs, we’ll explore options for various fishing levels and playstyles.
Fishing stands out as a top money-making skill due to its accessibility and low resource requirements. Most methods need only a fishing rod, bait, or a harpoon, making it beginner-friendly. High-level fish like sharks and anglerfish are in constant demand for cooking and combat, ensuring stable prices on the Grand Exchange. Plus, many fishing spots allow for AFK training, letting you earn GP while multitasking. Let’s break down the top methods to help you decide which suits your account best.
Key Benefits of Fishing for Profit
- Low Investment: Minimal gear costs compared to combat or skilling methods like herblore.
- AFK Potential: Many methods require little attention, ideal for casual players.
- Scalable Profits: Higher fishing levels unlock more lucrative fish, boosting GP per hour.
- Dual Rewards: Earn fishing XP alongside gold, progressing toward the skill cape.
Top P2P Fishing Money-Making Methods
Pay-to-play players have access to the most profitable fishing methods in OSRS. These often require higher fishing levels and specific quests or items but offer substantial rewards. Below are the best P2P fishing methods, ranked by profitability, with details on requirements and strategies.
Catching Sacred Eels
Sacred eels are a standout choice for high-profit fishing, yielding Zulrah’s scales, which are valuable for crafting toxic blowpipes and other items. This method is relatively AFK and doesn’t require banking since scales stack.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Fishing Level | 87 |
| Cooking Level | 72 (96 recommended for max scales) |
| Quest | Partial completion of Regicide |
| Items | Fishing rod, bait, knife |
| Profit | ~370K GP/hour |
| XP | ~23K Fishing, ~26K Cooking/hour |
Strategy: Fish at Zul-Andra after speaking to High Priestess Zul-Harcinqa. Use a knife to dissect eels for scales (3–9 per eel, scaling with cooking level). At 96 cooking, expect ~1,540 scales/hour. Equip Rada’s Blessing (from Kourend & Kebos Diary) for a 2–8% chance to catch extra eels without XP, boosting profits.
Fishing Dark Crabs
Dark crabs offer high profits but come with the risk of player killers (PKers) since they’re caught in the Wilderness. The method is low-effort as fishing spots don’t move, but caution is key.
- Requirements: 85 Fishing, Wilderness Elite Diary (highly recommended), lobster pot, dark fishing bait, ~15K coins/hour for noting.
- Profit: ~350K GP/hour.
- XP: ~27K Fishing/hour.
- Location: Resource Area in deep Wilderness.
Strategy: Use the Edgeville lever to access the Resource Area. Bring defensive gear (e.g., Dinh’s Bulwark) and a slash weapon to cut webs. Note crabs at Piles for 50 coins each to avoid banking frequently. The Wilderness Elite Diary increases catch rates significantly, making it a must-have. Avoid PKers by banking often and using a lockpick for the nearby magic axe hut escape.
Catching Minnows
Minnows are a click-intensive method but highly profitable due to their exchange for raw sharks, which sell well. They stack, eliminating banking needs.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Fishing Level | 82 |
| Items | Small fishing net, Angler’s outfit |
| Location | Fishing Guild (show outfit to Kylie Minnow) |
| Profit | ~280K–400K GP/hour |
| XP | ~15K–25K Fishing/hour |
Strategy: Fish minnows at the Fishing Guild platform, where spots move every 15 seconds. Exchange minnows with Kylie Minnow at 40:1 for raw sharks. At 99 Fishing, you can catch ~625 sharks/hour, netting ~400K GP. Use Rada’s Blessing to increase catches. This method suits players comfortable with active gameplay.
F2P Fishing Money-Making Methods
Free-to-play players have fewer options, but fishing remains a solid way to earn GP early on. F2P methods focus on accessible fish like lobsters and swordfish, which are in demand for cooking.
Fishing Lobsters
Lobsters are the go-to F2P money maker for mid-level players. They’re easy to catch and sell reliably on the Grand Exchange.
- Requirements: 40 Fishing, lobster pot.
- Profit: ~30K–50K GP/hour.
- XP: ~20K Fishing/hour.
- Location: Musa Point (Karamja) or Catherby (after unlocking teleport).
Strategy: Fish at Karamja, paying 60 coins round-trip from Port Sarim. Bank at the deposit box near the monks or use Stiles to note fish, saving time. Sell raw lobsters for steady profits. This method is AFK and ideal for beginners.
Fishing Swordfish and Tuna
At higher levels, F2P players can catch swordfish and tuna for better profits, though it’s slower than lobsters due to mixed catches.
- Requirements: 50 Fishing (70+ recommended), harpoon.
- Profit: ~15K–25K GP/hour.
- XP: ~25K Fishing/hour.
- Location: Karamja.
Strategy: Harpoon at Karamja’s fishing spots. Expect ~78 swordfish and ~117 tuna per hour at 70 Fishing. Note fish with Stiles to minimize banking trips. Profits are modest but consistent, making this a good stepping stone to P2P methods.
Boosting Your Fishing Profits
Maximizing GP per hour requires optimizing your setup and strategy. Here are key tips to enhance your fishing money-making efficiency.
Essential Gear and Boosts
- Angler’s Outfit: Obtained from Fishing Trawler, grants 2.5% extra Fishing XP, speeding up leveling.
- Rada’s Blessing: From Kourend & Kebos Diary, gives 2–8% chance for extra fish (no XP), increasing profits.
- Dragon Harpoon: Boosts Fishing by 3 levels via special attack, ideal for high-level catches like sharks.
- Fish Barrel: From Tempoross, stores 28 raw fish, reducing banking trips for P2P methods.
Quests and Diaries to Unlock
Completing specific quests and diaries unlocks better fishing spots and profit boosts:
- Regicide: Required for sacred eels (partial completion).
- Swan Song: Unlocks Piscatoris for monkfish, a mid-level profit option.
- Wilderness Elite Diary: Boosts dark crab catch rates significantly.
- Kourend & Kebos Diary: Grants Rada’s Blessing for extra fish.
Comparing Fishing Methods for Your Playstyle
Not all fishing methods suit every player. Here’s a quick comparison to help you choose:
| Method | Fishing Level | Profit/Hour | AFK Level | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacred Eels | 87 | 370K | High | Low |
| Dark Crabs | 85 | 350K | High | High (Wilderness) |
| Minnows | 82 | 280K–400K | Low | Low |
| Lobsters (F2P) | 40 | 30K–50K | High | Low |
| Swordfish/Tuna (F2P) | 50 | 15K–25K | High | Low |
Pro Tip: If you prefer AFK methods, prioritize sacred eels or dark crabs (with Wilderness Diary). For active players, minnows offer the highest potential GP at 99 Fishing.
Final Thoughts on Fishing for Profit
Fishing in OSRS is a versatile skill that balances profit and relaxation. Sacred eels and dark crabs lead for P2P players, offering ~350K–370K GP/hour with minimal effort, while minnows shine for those willing to click more. F2P players can rely on lobsters for steady, low-level income. By investing in gear like the Angler’s Outfit and completing diaries, you’ll boost both profits and XP. Choose a method that fits your fishing level and playstyle, and watch your bank grow while enjoying the serene waters of Gielinor.
