OSRS Fishing Guide: Level 1-99 Fastest Methods and Tips

OSRS Fishing Guide: Level 1-99 Fastest Methods and Tips


Welcome to the ultimate guide for achieving level 1-99 Fishing in Old School RuneScape (OSRS)! Whether you’re a free-to-play (F2P) player or a pay-to-play (P2P) adventurer, this blog post will walk you through the fastest methods, profitable alternatives, and essential tips to master the Fishing skill. Fishing is a relaxing yet rewarding skill that unlocks quests, provides food for combat, and even offers decent money-making opportunities. Let’s dive into the best strategies to reach that coveted level 99 Fishing cape!

Fishing in OSRS is more than just a leisurely activity by the water. It’s a gateway to progression, offering benefits like access to high-level quests (e.g., 53 Fishing for Barrows gloves, 62 for the Quest Cape), valuable resources for Cooking, and a steady income stream for P2P players. Plus, with the right methods, it can be one of the most AFK (away-from-keyboard) skills, perfect for multitasking or chilling with a movie.

Key Benefits of Leveling Fishing

  • Quest Requirements: Unlock essential milestones like the Quest Cape and Achievement Diaries.
  • Food Supply: Catch fish to cook and sustain yourself during Slayer or bossing.
  • Profit Potential: Methods like Monkfish or Sharks can net millions of GP.
  • AFK Training: Many Fishing methods require minimal attention.

Fishing Equipment and Boosts

Before casting your line, you’ll need the right gear. The equipment you use and the boosts you apply can significantly speed up your journey to 99 Fishing. Here’s what to prioritize:

Essential Fishing Gear

XP Boosting Items

To maximize efficiency, grab these optional boosts:

  • Angler’s Outfit: Earned from Fishing Trawler or Aerial Fishing, provides a 2.5% XP bonus.
  • Admiral Pie: Temporarily boosts Fishing by +5, great for early access to methods like the Fishing Guild.
  • Rada’s Blessing: From Kourend & Kebos Diary, offers a chance to catch double fish (up to 8% at Elite tier).

Fastest Path to 99 Fishing (P2P)

For P2P players aiming for the quickest route to 99, this section outlines the most efficient methods. These prioritize XP rates over profit, often requiring you to drop fish rather than bank them.

Levels 1-20: Small Net Fishing

Start at Draynor Village (F2P) or Lumbridge Swamp (P2P) with a small fishing net. Catch shrimp (10 XP each) until level 15, then shrimp and anchovies (40 XP each) until 20. This takes about 30 minutes and requires 252 shrimp or a mix of 206 shrimp/52 anchovies.

Levels 20-58: Fly Fishing

Head to Barbarian Village or Shilo Village with a fly fishing rod and feathers. Catch trout (50 XP each) from level 20 and salmon (70 XP each) from level 30. Expect 25,000-35,000 XP per hour. Drop fish to maximize XP—banking slows you down here.

Levels 58-99: Barbarian Fishing (3-Tick Method)

Unlock Barbarian Fishing by speaking to Otto Godblessed near Baxtorian Falls. You’ll need a Barbarian Rod and feathers. At level 58, catch leaping salmon (70 XP each), and at 70, leaping sturgeon (80 XP each). Using the 3-tick method (combining fishing with actions like herb cleaning) can push XP rates to 90,000-110,000 per hour at level 99. Without tick manipulation, rates drop to 50,000-60,000 XP/hour, still decent for AFK training.

Alternative: Tempoross (Level 35-99)

Tempoross, a skilling boss at level 35 Fishing, offers the fastest XP in the game without tick manipulation. Use a harpoon (crystal preferred) and don’t cook the fish to maximize XP—up to 100,000-130,000 per hour at high levels. Check out a detailed Tempoross guide for optimal strategies.

Profitable Fishing Methods (P2P)

If you’d rather make some gold while training, these methods balance XP with profit. They’re slower but ideal for players who want to fund other skills.

Levels 62-99: Monkfish

After completing Swan Song, fish Monkfish at Piscatoris Fishing Colony with a small net. At 62 Fishing, you’ll get 30,000 XP/hour, rising to 40,000 XP/hour at 99. You’ll need 105,839 Monkfish to hit 99, earning around 20-25M GP (or 100M+ if cooking them).

Levels 82-99: Minnows

At the Fishing Guild (requires Angler’s Outfit), catch Minnows with 82 Fishing. Trade them for raw sharks—40 Minnows per shark. XP rates are modest (40,000-50,000/hour), but profits can exceed 500K GP/hour, totaling 50M+ GP to 99.

Levels 80-99: Infernal Eels

In Mor Ul Rek (show a Fire Cape to enter), catch Infernal Eels with an oily fishing rod, bait, and ice gloves. Smash them for Tokkul, onyx bolt tips, or lava shards. Expect 28,000-35,000 XP/hour and 20-30M GP profit to 99.

F2P Fishing Guide: Levels 1-99

F2P players have fewer options, but reaching 99 Fishing is still achievable with patience. Here’s the breakdown:

Levels 1-20: Small Net Fishing

Fish shrimp and anchovies at Draynor Village, as described earlier. It’s the same for F2P and P2P at this stage.

Levels 20-40: Fly Fishing

Use a fly fishing rod and feathers at Barbarian Village to catch trout and salmon. Rates are 20,000-30,000 XP/hour. Drop fish to keep it fast.

Levels 40-99: Lobsters

Switch to a lobster pot and fish at Musa Point (Karamja). Rates start at 20,000 XP/hour and peak at 30,000 XP/hour at 99. Banking via the deposit box on the dock is an option if you want profit (50-100K GP/hour), but dropping fish is faster for XP.

F2P XP Table

Level Range Method XP/Hour Fish Needed to 99
1-20 Shrimp/Anchovies 10,000-15,000 252 Shrimp
20-40 Trout/Salmon 20,000-30,000 1,500 Trout
40-99 Lobsters 20,000-30,000 130,000 Lobsters

Tips for Efficient Fishing Training

Whether you’re chasing XP or GP, these tips will streamline your grind:

Optimize Your Setup

  • Use Boosts: Admiral Pies and the Fishing Guild’s +7 invisible boost are game-changers.
  • Inventory Management: Drop fish for XP-focused methods; bank only for profit.
  • Teleportation: Games Necklace (Barbarian Outpost) or Fairy Rings save travel time.

Tick Manipulation Explained

For P2P players, 3-tick fishing (e.g., with Barbarian Fishing) cuts the 5-tick fishing animation to 3 ticks (0.6 seconds each). Pair fishing with actions like herb cleaning or fletching to reset the cycle, boosting XP by up to 67%. It’s click-intensive but unmatched for speed.

Stay Motivated

Fishing can be a long grind—13M XP takes time! Break it into chunks, mix AFK and active methods, and celebrate milestones like 50, 75, or 90 Fishing. The cape is worth it.

That’s it for our OSRS Fishing Guide! Whether you’re fly fishing in Barbarian Village, battling Tempoross, or banking Monkfish for profit, you’ve got the tools to hit 99. Tight lines, and happy fishing!