Fishing and Cooking Guide OSRS

In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), Fishing and Cooking are two complementary skills that players often train together for efficiency, profit, or self-sufficiency. Whether you’re a free-to-play (F2P) adventurer or a pay-to-play (P2P) veteran, this guide covers the best methods to level up from 1 to 99, optimize experience rates, and make gold along the way. From netting shrimp in Draynor Village to harpooning sharks in the Fishing Guild, we’ll explore strategies, quests, and tips to master these skills.

Fishing and Cooking go hand in hand because caught fish can be cooked for food, which restores hitpoints during combat, or sold for profit. Training them together saves time and resources, especially for Ironmen who rely on self-gathered materials. High Fishing levels unlock better fish and money-making methods, while Cooking ensures those fish become edible or marketable. Plus, both skills are relatively low-effort, making them perfect for relaxed skilling sessions.

Benefits of Combined Training

Efficiency: Catch and cook in one session to gain XP in both skills.
Profit: Fish like lobsters and sharks sell well on the Grand Exchange.
Quest Requirements: Skills unlock quests like Recipe for Disaster (Cooking) and Swan Song (Fishing).
Self-Sufficiency: Ironmen can stockpile food for Slayer or bossing.

Fishing Training Guide

OSRS 199 Fishing Guide Updated Old School Runescape Fishing Guide

Fishing involves catching fish from designated spots across Gielinor using tools like nets, rods, or harpoons. Higher levels grant access to better fish and faster XP rates. Below, we outline the best methods for F2P and P2P players.

Levels 1–20: Starting with Shrimp and Sardines

Begin with a small fishing net (available from fishing shops or Tutorial Island) to catch shrimp and anchovies. Good F2P spots include:

Draynor Village: Close to a bank, but watch for level 7 Dark Wizards if under combat level 15.
Lumbridge Swamp: Quiet and safe, ideal for new players.
Al Kharid: Near a bank, but beware of level 14 scorpions.

At level 5, switch to a fishing rod and bait to catch sardines at the same spots. Expect around 5,000–7,500 XP per hour by dropping fish (powerfishing) to maximize XP.

Levels 20–40: Fly Fishing Trout and Salmon

At level 20, grab a fly fishing rod and feathers (buy from Gerrant’s Fishy Business in Port Sarim) to catch trout in Barbarian Village or Lumbridge. At level 30, you’ll also catch salmon, boosting XP to 30,000–50,000 per hour if dropping fish. Barbarian Village has a permanent fire for cooking, making it ideal for dual training.

Tip: Use an Admiral Pie (+5 Fishing boost) to access trout early at level 15, speeding up progress.

Levels 40–70: Lobsters and Beyond

At level 40, use a lobster pot to fish lobsters at Musa Point (Karamja) in F2P or Catherby in P2P. Trade with Stiles on Karamja to convert lobsters to banknotes, saving bank trips. Expect 20,000–30,000 Fishing XP per hour, with decent profit (9,800–12,600 gp/hour). In P2P, consider Barbarian Fishing at level 48 for passive Strength and Agility XP alongside Fishing.

Levels 70–99: High-Level Fishing Methods

For F2P, continue with lobsters or switch to swordfish/tuna at level 50 in Musa Point (up to 30,000 XP/hour). In P2P, top methods include:

Monkfish (level 62, after Swan Song): 30,000–40,000 XP/hour in Piscatoris.
Sharks (level 76, Fishing Guild): 35,000–45,000 XP/hour, great profit.
2-Tick Harpooning (level 70+, Piscarilius): Up to 135,000 XP/hour with tick manipulation, but high-effort.
Sacred Eels (level 87, Zul-Andra): 22,000 XP/hour, 220,000 gp/hour profit.

Pro Tip: The Angler’s Outfit (from Fishing Trawler) gives a 2.5% XP boost, and the Dragon Harpoon special attack (+3 Fishing levels) speeds up catches.

Cooking Training Guide

OSRS Cooking Guide Training 199 Fast F2P P2P Methods

Cooking turns raw fish into edible food, with XP based on the fish type. Burn rates decrease with higher levels, better ranges, and gear like Cooking Gauntlets (from Family Crest). Here’s how to level efficiently.

Levels 1–30: Cooking Shrimp to Trout

Cook the shrimp, sardines, or trout you catch early on. Use the Lumbridge Castle range (unlocked after Cook’s Assistant) to reduce burn rates. Expect 30–70 XP per fish, reaching level 30 in a few hours. Alternatively, cook at Barbarian Village’s permanent fire while fishing for convenience.

Levels 30–68: Salmon and Lobsters

Switch to salmon (70 XP each) or lobsters (120 XP each) at level 40. The Hosidius Kitchen (P2P, after easy Kourend Diary) boosts success rates by 5%, while Rogues’ Den offers a bank-adjacent fire for F2P. Burn rates drop significantly with Cooking Gauntlets at level 40+.

Levels 68–99: High-Tier Fish and Wine

For F2P, cook swordfish (140 XP each) or make jugs of wine at level 35 for 470,000–490,000 XP/hour, the fastest F2P method. Combine grapes and jugs of water to create unfermented wine, which ferments after 12 seconds for 200 XP each. In P2P, cook:

Monkfish (150 XP each): 100,000–120,000 XP/hour in Hosidius.
Sharks (210 XP each): Similar rates, high profit potential.
Anglerfish (230 XP each): Best XP per fish, but expensive.

Note: Wine is click-intensive and costly, while fish cooking is slower but cheaper or profitable.

Quest XP Boosts for Fishing and Cooking

Quests can skip early grind, granting significant XP. Here’s a table of key quests for both skills:

Quest	Skill	XP Reward	Fishing Level Req.	Cooking Level Req.
Cook’s Assistant	Cooking	300	None	None
Fishing Contest	Fishing	2,437	10	None
Sea Slug	Fishing	7,125	None	None
Tai Bwo Wannai Trio	Fishing/Cooking	5,000/5,000	5	30
Swan Song	Fishing	50,000	62	None

Completing these can boost you to level 30+ quickly, especially for Fishing with Swan Song’s massive reward.

Tips and Tricks for Faster Progress

Maximize your efficiency with these strategies:

Optimize Gear and Boosts

Fishing: Use the Dragon Harpoon or Crystal Harpoon (P2P) for faster catches. The Fish Barrel (from Tempoross) doubles inventory space.
Cooking: Wear Cooking Gauntlets and use the Hosidius Kitchen or Myths’ Guild range for minimal burns.
Both: Tempoross (P2P) gives passive Cooking XP while fishing, plus rewards like the Tacklebox.

Powerfishing vs. Banking

Powerfishing (dropping fish) yields the highest XP rates but no profit. Banking fish is slower but lucrative, especially for lobsters, monkfish, or sharks. Choose based on your goals—XP or gold.

Tick Manipulation for Pros

In P2P, 2-tick harpooning at Piscarilius or 3-tick Barbarian Fishing can push Fishing XP to 100,000+/hour, but they’re click-intensive. For Cooking, cut-eat tick manipulation with karambwan boosts rates slightly but requires practice.

Profit Potential

Fishing and Cooking can fund your OSRS journey. At high levels, expect:

Lobsters: 100,000–150,000 gp/hour.
Sharks: 200,000–300,000 gp/hour.
Jugs of Wine: Minimal profit but unmatched Cooking XP.

With dedication, Fishing and Cooking can lead to the coveted Fishing Skillcape and Cooking Skillcape, symbols of mastery. Whether you’re powerfishing trout in Barbarian Village or cooking sharks in Hosidius, this guide equips you to tackle both skills efficiently. Tight lines and happy cooking!