OSRS Fishing Guide 1-99 2025: Fast XP & Profitable Methods (Ironman Friendly)

Fishing in Old School RuneScape is the ultimate chill skill that lets you relax by the water while stacking XP or GP. I remember my first time at Lumbridge swamp, clicking away at shrimp as a total noob, thinking this would take forever to 99. Fast forward, and after grinding fly fishing in Barbarian Village and flipping anglerfish for profit, I hit 99 with a fat bank from karambwan sales. Fishing is perfect for AFK sessions, money-making, or Ironman grinds where you need self-sufficiency. This 2025 guide covers everything from 1 to 99, including fast XP methods, profitable spots, Ironman tips, gear upgrades, quests, and synergy with Cooking. Whether you are F2P, P2P, or an Ironman hoarding every fish, you will find efficient paths here to make your grind enjoyable and rewarding. We will dive into level unlocks, training methods, spots, gear, quests, money-making, and community aspects, ensuring you have all the tools to master Fishing. With Yama expansion tweaks like improved guild access and new bait options, 2025 is the best year to fish. Let’s get into it, rod in hand.

Fishing Levels & Unlocks (1-99)

Fishing progression is linear. Each level unlocks new fish, tools, and spots that ramp up your XP or GP rates. Early levels are slow but cheap, while higher ones open profitable or AFK options. Here’s a full breakdown of key unlocks, based on 2025 game state with Yama expansion tweaks like improved Fishing Guild access. This table helps you plan your grind, showing what to expect at each milestone. I used it to map my Ironman path, focusing on self-sufficient unlocks.

Level	Unlock/Fish	Method/Tool	Notes & XP/hr (Approx)
1	Shrimp, Anchovies	Small Net	Starter grind, 8k-12k XP/hr. Cook for Cooking XP.
5	Sardines	Fishing Rod + Bait	Slightly faster than shrimp, 10k XP/hr.
10	Herring	Bait Fishing	F2P staple, 12k XP/hr.
15	Cod	Big Net	Coastal spots, 15k XP/hr.
20	Trout, Salmon	Fly Fishing Rod + Feathers	Fast XP jump, 35k-50k XP/hr. Barbarian Village hotspot.
25	Pike	Bait Fishing	River spots, 20k XP/hr.
30	Tuna	Harpoon	Catherby, 25k XP/hr.
35	Barbarian Fishing	Barbarian Rod	Leaping fish + Strength/Agility XP, 50k-70k XP/hr (normal).
40	Lobsters	Lobster Pot	Karamja, 25k-35k XP/hr, 150k-300k GP/hr.
46	Swordfish	Harpoon	30k XP/hr, 200k GP/hr.
50	Dwarf Mullet	Big Net (Diving)	Fossil Island, 40k XP/hr.
58	Sharks	Harpoon	40k XP/hr, 300k GP/hr.
62	Monkfish	Small Net (Swan Song Quest)	Piscatoris, 35k-45k XP/hr, 250k-400k GP/hr. AFK king.
65	Karambwan	Bait	Great GP/hr.
68	Fishing Guild Access	N/A	Banked spots, AFK boosts.
76	Infernal Eel	Anglerfish Outfit	50k XP/hr, clues/profit.
82	Anglerfish	Bait	High GP/hr & used in PvM.
91	3-Tick Barbarian Fishing	Tick manipulation	Sweatiest XP method.
99	Fishing Cape	Cape perk	Unlimited teleports to Fishing Guild.

These unlocks make Fishing versatile. For Ironman, focus on self-sufficiency. Quests like Swan Song unlock monkfish early, saving hours. I banked on early fly fishing to build food stocks for my Ironman.

OSRS Fishing Training Methods (1–99)

No one-size-fits-all for Fishing. Choose based on your playstyle. Fast XP goes to fly fishing or Barbarian Fishing. Profit-focused prefers monkfish, sharks, anglerfish, karambwan. AFK gameplay likes minnows, lobsters, Fishing Guild spots. Let’s go through each stage in detail.

Levels 1–20: Shrimp, Anchovies & Sardines

This early grind is about getting the basics down without spending much. It is slow but free/cheap, perfect for F2P starters or Ironman building Cooking synergy. You will use simple tools like a small net, and it is mostly AFK once you find a spot.

How-To: Lumbridge swamp for shrimp/anchovies (small net, 8k-12k XP/hr). Level 5+ sardines with bait (10k XP/hr).
GP/hr: Minimal loss or break-even if cooked.
Ironman Tip: Cook everything for dual XP. No supplies needed.
Spot: Lumbridge (F2P-friendly bank nearby).
Personal Note: I spent my first 10 levels here, cooking shrimp while chatting in Lumbridge. Boring but foundational.

Levels 20–58: Fly Fishing (Trout & Salmon)

This is the fastest low-to-mid-level XP method and popular for both F2P and P2P players. It is semi-AFK but requires dropping fish often unless you bank for Cooking. Great for Ironman stocking food early.

How-To: Fly fishing rod + feathers (5 GP each). Catch trout (20+) and salmon (30+). Drop or bank for Cooking.
XP/hr: 35k-50k (normal), up to 60k with drops.
GP/hr: Small loss (raw trout ~100 GP, salmon ~200 GP), but cook for profit.
Ironman Tip: Bank salmon for later Cooking; feathers from chickens.
Spot: Barbarian Village (F2P) or Shilo Village (P2P, faster).
Personal Note: I grinded 20-58 here, listening to podcasts. It is repetitive but reliable. Hit 50 in a week.

Levels 35–99: Barbarian Fishing

At level 35, you unlock Barbarian Fishing, a meta training method for XP. It trains Strength and Agility too, making it multi-skill efficient. No bait needed, but it is not profitable since leaping fish are not bankable.

How-To: Barbarian rod (no bait). Catch leaping trout/salmon/sturgeon, drop them.
XP/hr: 50k-70k (normal), 100k+ with 3-tick manipulation (feather drop trick).
GP/hr: 0 (leaping fish not bankable).
Ironman Tip: Great for multi-skill training; no supplies needed beyond rod.
Spot: Otto’s Grotto (Baxtorian Falls).
Personal Note: I did normal Barbarian to 80 for chill XP, then 3-tick to 99. Sweaty but worth it for the cape.

Levels 40–62: Lobsters & Tuna/Swordfish

For those who want money + chill gameplay, lobsters are unlocked at 40, and tuna/swordfish at 50. While XP is slower, both sell well on the GE. High AFK, perfect for multitasking.

How-To: Lobster pots (40) or harpoon (tuna 40, swordfish 50).
XP/hr: 25k-35k.
GP/hr: Lobsters 150k-300k (500 GP each), tuna/swordfish 200k (raw tuna 200 GP).
Ironman Tip: Pots from GE or quest rewards; cook for food stockpile.
Spot: Karamja (F2P) or Catherby (P2P bank).
Personal Note: Lobsters at Karamja were my money-maker to 60. AFK while tanning hides.

Levels 62–99: Monkfish

After completing the quest Swan Song, you unlock monkfish at Piscatoris. These are one of the most popular training fish because they balance XP and profit. Very AFK with bank nearby.

How-To: Small net after Swan Song quest.
XP/hr: 35k-45k.
GP/hr: 250k-400k (monkfish ~800 GP raw).
Ironman Tip: Quest is Ironman-friendly; bank for PvM food.
Spot: Piscatoris (bank nearby).
Personal Note: I AFK monkfish to 85 while watching streams. Best balance of XP and profit.

Levels 65–99: Karambwan

Karambwan fishing requires completion of Tai Bwo Wannai Trio quest. These are extremely profitable but click-intensive. Not AFK, but high GP for the effort.

How-To: Karambwan vessel after Tai Bwo Wannai Trio.
XP/hr: 20k-30k.
GP/hr: 500k-800k (karambwan ~2k GP raw).
Ironman Tip: Quest for vessel; cook for super energy pots.
Spot: Karamja fairy ring (D K P).
Personal Note: Karambwan funded my 99. 800k GP/hr at peak GE.

Levels 82–99: Anglerfish

Anglerfish are one of the best GP/hr methods in Fishing. Located in Piscarilius, these require 100% favor. Extremely AFK, ideal for passive play.

How-To: Small net with 100% Piscarilius favor.
XP/hr: 20k-30k.
GP/hr: 600k-900k (anglerfish ~1k GP raw).
Ironman Tip: Favor from Hosidius quests; best PvM healing food.
Spot: Piscarilius docks.
Personal Note: AFK anglerfish to 99 while working. 700k GP/hr easy.

Levels 82–99: Minnows (Alternative)

Unlocked with Fishing Guild access and an angler outfit, minnows offer a unique AFK money-making method. Convert minnows to sharks for profit.

How-To: Small net + angler outfit.
XP/hr: 35k-40k.
GP/hr: 400k-500k (convert to sharks).
Ironman Tip: Outfit from Trawler; sharks for food.
Spot: Fishing Guild platforms.
Personal Note: Minnows were my lazy 90-99 method. Super AFK.

XP/hr & GP/hr Comparison

To make the choice easier, here is a side-by-side view of popular methods.

Method	Level	XP/hr	GP/hr	AFK Level	Ironman Notes
Shrimp/Anchovies	1-20	8k-12k	Break-even	High	Cook for dual XP
Fly Fishing	20-58	35k-50k	Small loss	Medium	Bank salmon for food
Barbarian Fishing	35-99	50k-100k	0	Medium	Multi-skill training
Lobsters	40-62	25k-35k	150k-300k	High	Pots from quests
Monkfish	62-99	35k-45k	250k-400k	High	Quest unlock, PvM food
Karambwan	65-99	20k-30k	500k-800k	Low	Energy pot synergy
Anglerfish	82-99	20k-30k	600k-900k	Very High	Best healing food
Minnows	82-99	35k-40k	400k-500k	Very High	Outfit for +2.5% XP

As you can see, fastest XP goes to 3-Tick Barbarian Fishing. Best AFK goes to Anglerfish or Minnows. Best GP goes to Karambwan and Anglerfish.

Essential Fishing Equipment

Fishing in OSRS is not just about clicking spots. The right gear and tools make a huge difference. Here is what you need to gear up for efficient training.

Basic Tools

Small Net: Shrimp and anchovies.
Fishing Rod + Feathers: Trout, salmon.
Harpoon: Tuna, swordfish, sharks.
Big Net: Cod, monkfish, minnows.
Lobster Pot: Lobsters.
Barbarian Rod: Leaping fish.
Karambwan Vessel: Karambwan.

Upgrades

Dragon Harpoon: 500k GP, special attack boosts speed.
Infernal Harpoon: 1M GP, auto-cooks fish (chance).
Angler Outfit: From Fishing Trawler, +2.5% XP.

Boosts

Fishing Cape: 99 reward, +2.5% XP, teleports.
Graceful: Reduces weight for faster clicks.
Stamina Potions: For 3-tick Barbarian.

Ironman Tip: Craft rods from logs. Buy bait from shops.

Best Fishing Spots

Different fishing spots matter for efficiency. Here are the most popular ones. Choosing the right spot can double your XP or GP rates, depending on bank access and fish density.

Lumbridge Swamp: Shrimp/anchovies (beginners, bank nearby).
Barbarian Village: Fly fishing (fast XP, river spot).
Shilo Village: Fly fishing (P2P, higher rates).
Karamja: Lobsters/karambwan (profit, fairy ring access).
Catherby: Tuna/swordfish (banked, multi-fish).
Piscatoris: Monkfish (AFK, quest unlock).
Fishing Guild: Minnows/anglerfish (bank, AFK platforms).
Otto’s Grotto: Barbarian fishing (multi-skill).

For Ironman, stick to guild for banking.

Fishing Quests & Rewards

Some quests boost Fishing levels early or unlock unique content. These are essential for unlocking high-profit methods and saving grind time.

Fishing Contest (10 Fishing): 2433 XP, Fishing Guild access.
Sea Slug (30 Fishing): 7175 XP, Fishing Trawler minigame.
Tai Bwo Wannai Trio (65 Fishing): Karambwan vessel, profit unlock.
Swan Song (62 Fishing): 10k XP, monkfish spot.
Barbarian Training: Barbarian rod, multi-skill XP.

Ironman Tip: These quests are self-contained. Complete for unlocks.

Fishing & Cooking Synergy

Fishing pairs perfectly with Cooking since most fish can be cooked for HP-restoring food. This synergy is huge for dual skilling or Ironman food stocks.

Dual Training: Catch and cook trout/salmon (20k Cooking XP/hr alongside Fishing).
Burn Reduction: Use Cooking gauntlets (Hosidius favor) for sharks/monkfish.
Profit: Cook anglerfish for 1k GP/hr extra.

Ironman Tip: Bank raw sharks for later Cooking. Self-sufficient food source.

Fishing as a Money-Making Method

Fishing shines for passive GP. It is not the fastest moneymaker, but it is consistent, safe, and scalable with AFK options.

Karambwan: 500k-800k GP/hr (cook for energy pots).
Anglerfish: 600k-900k GP/hr (PvM food, stable market).
Minnows: 400k-500k GP/hr (convert to sharks).
Sharks: 300k GP/hr (AFK, high demand).

2025 GE: Anglerfish ~1k GP, karambwan ~2k GP. Ironman: Use for food stockpile.

Ironman Fishing Tips

Ironman mode makes Fishing self-reliant. Here are tips to make it efficient without GE.

Early Game: Shrimp to 20, then fly fish trout for food.
Quests First: Swan Song for monkfish, Tai Bwo for karambwan.
Outfit Grind: Fishing Trawler for angler outfit (+2.5% XP).
AFK Focus: Minnows/anglerfish for passive XP/GP.
Synergy: Cook everything for Herblore potions.

Personal Note: As an Ironman, I hit 99 with monkfish/anglerfish combo. No GE needed.

OSRS Fishing Community & Events

Fishing is social. AFK at guild with friends or join Trawler runs. Jagex events make it fun.

Events: Jagex skilling comps, Double XP weekends (boosts Fishing).
Community: OSRS Discord for spot tips, Reddit r/2007scape for Ironman advice.
Minigames: Fishing Trawler (outfit rewards), Tempoross (XP + points).

Personal Note: I made friends AFK fishing minnows. Trawler runs are fun for outfit.

FAQ

What is the fastest Fishing method?
3-Tick Barbarian Fishing (100k+ XP/hr), but sweaty. Normal Barbarian is 50k-70k.

Best profitable Fishing method?
Anglerfish (600k-900k GP/hr) or karambwan (500k-800k).

Ironman Fishing guide?
Fly fishing to 62, monkfish to 99. Quests for unlocks.

How long to 99 Fishing?
100-150 hours with Barbarian, 200+ for AFK/profit methods.

Best AFK Fishing?
Minnows or anglerfish (35k-40k XP/hr, very passive).

Conclusion

Fishing is OSRS’s relaxing powerhouse for XP, GP, and food. From shrimp in Lumbridge to AFK anglerfish in Piscarilius, this 1-99 guide has your path to 99. With 2025 GE prices, grab karambwan at 2k GP for profit. Check our blog for more OSRS guides like Prayer or Construction training, or buy OSRS gold if you need a boost. Grab your rod and start reeling. May your inventory fill with sharks!

Last Updated: September 23, 2025