Fishing

Fishing
Released		11 June 2001 (Update)
Members		No
Type		Gathering
Statistics
Players with 99		201,284 as of 1 August 2026 - update
Players with 200M XP		407 as of 4 August 2026 - update

Fishing is a skill which involves catching fish from selected spots around Gielinor. Higher Fishing levels enable different mechanisms of Fishing, the ability to catch a larger selection of fish and increases a player's catch rate. Caught fish may be cooked through the Cooking skill to create food which may be used later to regain hitpoints during combat. Alternatively, many players sell their excess stock of catches for gold.

When caught, most fish will be raw and cannot be eaten until they are cooked. The name and colour indicates this. For example, when shrimps are first caught they are named "raw shrimps", but once cooked the name changes to "shrimps".

There is a number of fish that can't be cooked, but instead most others offer some useful material when cut or smashed.

While fishing, players may also occasionally receive clue bottles that contain a clue scroll of the following difficulties: beginner, easy, medium, hard, and elite. Master clue scrolls cannot be obtained from clue bottles.

Players need the right kind of equipment to catch the fish they want. Basic Fishing equipment can be purchased in fishing shops. Players can buy fishing equipment from the fishing store in Port Sarim and from the fishing store in Catherby. More advanced fishing methods may need to be found or crafted.

Locations of fishing shops where players can buy supplies are:

• Gerrant's Fishy Business in Port Sarim

• Harry's Fishing Shop in Catherby
• Fishing Guild Shop in the Fishing Guild
• Lovecraft's Tackle in Witchaven
• Fernahei's Fishing Hut in Shilo Village
• Fremennik Fishmonger in Rellekka
• Etceteria Fish in Etceteria
• Island Fishmonger in Miscellania
• Flosi's Fishmongers in Jatizso
• Tynan's Fishing Supplies in Port Piscarilius
• Ishmael's Fish He Sells in the Ruins of Unkah
• Picaria's Fishing Shop in Sunset Coast

The first few fish players can catch require nets. Players can use small fishing nets and big fishing nets. The big nets only allow players to catch different types of fish and sometimes items, such as caskets. When a player has found a fishing spot, they can then use their net if the option "net fishing spot" is available. "Net fishing spot" can be found in: Draynor Village, Lumbridge Swamp, Musa Point, the coastline near Rimmington, the Wilderness Bandit Camp, Al Kharid, and Corsair Cove. A "cast fishing spot" is available at the park in Civitas illa Fortis. House keys, gems, key halves, and clue bottles, can be obtained from this spot.

Fishing rods are required for mid level Fishing in both rivers and seas. Along with a Fishing rod, players also need bait. Bait can be bought in stores (3 coins each at the Port Sarim fishing shop), but is also dropped by some monsters and random events. When a player has found a fishing spot, they can then use their fishing rod if the option "bait fishing spot" is available. For every fish you catch, you lose one piece of bait.

The oily fishing rod is a members only item required to catch infernal eels when used with ice gloves and to catch lava eels for the Heroes' Quest. The pearl variants such as the Pearl fishing rod are cosmetic and not improvements over the basic fishing rod, although they can be equipped which frees up a single inventory slot.

Fly fishing rods are also required for mid level Fishing. These rods can only be used in rivers. Along with a fly fishing rod, players also need feathers. They can be bought from the Shilo Village and Port Sarim fishing shop, but are also dropped by chickens. When a player has found a fishing spot, they can then use their fly fishing rod if the option "lure fishing spot" is available.

Stripy feathers (introduced with the Hunter skill) can be used for fly fishing, as well. Those feathers work the same as normal feathers, but players will only be able to fish rainbow fish, rather than the usual trout and salmon. The Pearl fly fishing rod is cosmetic and not an improvement over the basic fly fishing rod, although it can be equipped which frees up a single inventory slot.

Harpoons are required for mid and high level fish. Harpoons can only be used in the seas. When a player has found a fishing spot, they can then use their harpoon if the option "harpoon fishing spot" is available. Swordfish and tuna are caught in cage/harpoon fishing spots, while sharks are caught in net/harpoon spots.

There are five types of harpoons - the regular harpoon, the barb-tail harpoon, the dragon harpoon, the infernal harpoon, and the crystal harpoon. The dragon harpoon and infernal harpoon both have a 20% faster catch rate than the regular harpoon, and the crystal harpoon has a 35% faster catch rate. The barb-tail harpoon, dragon harpoon, infernal harpoon, and crystal harpoon can all be wielded. Many players prefer these harpoons as it saves an inventory space.

After being taught by Otto Godblessed, a player can catch fish that are harpoonable with just their hands. The Fishing level requirement is 20 levels higher and it also requires a Strength level equal to the Fishing level needed to catch the fish normally, but a small amount of strength experience is gained and the player doesn't need a harpoon equipped or in their inventory.

A lit lantern and a harpoon are required to fish at specific lantern harpooning fishing spots, only accessible with the Sailing skill, to catch swordtip squid and jumbo squid. A minimum Sailing level of 47 is required, enabling access to the spots at The Onyx Crest.

Of the available lanterns, the bug lantern and abyssal lantern may be preferable, as they can be wielded to save an inventory space.

In addition to being able to be cooked for food or cut for offcuts like most fish, raw squid may also be crushed for squid paste, and cutting raw squid can rarely produce a squid beak in addition to the offcuts.

Lobsters are caught in the sea by using lobster pots. When a player has found a fishing spot, they can then use their lobster pot if the option "cage fishing spot" is available. This is also true for Dark Crabs, with the only difference being Dark Fishing Bait must also be in a player's inventory.

Aerial fishing is a ranged fishing technique at the centre of Lake Molch requiring 35 Hunter and 43 Fishing. Players are given a Cormorant's glove for free by talking to Alry the Angler. While equipped the Cormorant eats King worms or Fish offcuts (taken from inventory similar to bait) to fly over the lake's surface, collect and return various unique aquatic creatures to the player. Catches include Bluegill, Common tench, Molted eel and Greater siren based on the Fishing and Hunter levels of the player. A knife can be used on these catches to give Cooking experience and receive fish offcuts which makes the process sustainable.

Additional rewards include the Molch pearl currency which can be used to purchase the Pearl fishing rod, Pearl fly fishing rod, Pearl barbarian rod and Fish sack. These are equipable versions of common fishing equipment for additional inventory capacity. Although pearls can also purchase parts of the Angler's outfit, it's a much slower method than the recommended Fishing trawler minigame.

Drift net fishing is a special fishing method that requires 44 Hunter and 47 Fishing accessible after completing Bone Voyage. Unlike fishing from a spot on the surface, this occurs in the Underwater area of Fossil Island where fish shoals are chased into Drift nets set by the player beforehand. Collecting fish shoals from the nets can reward various fish depending on your Fishing level including tuna, lobster, swordfish, sharks and at higher levels is one of the few methods to catch sea turtles and manta rays.

Karambwan vessels can be obtained from Lubufu south of Brimhaven once a player has started the Tai Bwo Wannai Trio quest and they can be bought from Tiadeche's Karambwan Stall in Tai Bwo Wannai once they have completed the quest. Karambwan vessels are loaded with karambwanji, which are caught from the lake that is near Lubufu. Karambwan are caught at the north-east shore north of the Karamja Shipyard.

Members with at least level 48 in Fishing can speak with Otto Godblessed in his home near Baxtorian Falls to learn special barbarian methods of fishing, Bare Handed Fishing and Heavy Rod Fishing.

Starting at level 55, the player can learn how to fish tuna, harpoonfish, swordfish, and sharks without a harpoon. Using this method requires a higher Fishing level as well as a Strength level equivalent to the Fishing level needed to catch the fish normally. However, it provides small amounts of Strength experience. At level 55, players can expect rates of 10,000 Fishing experience per hour, steadily increasing to 13,000 experience per hour at level 69. At level 70, catching both tuna and swordfish nets roughly 24,000 Fishing experience per hour.

Starting at level 48, the player can learn how to do heavy rod fishing; this method requires a barbarian rod (found under Otto's bed) and any type of bait (except for stripy/coloured feathers), as well as a knife to gut the fish. In order to catch the special fish in Otto's lake or at Mount Quidamortem, a Strength and Agility level is needed in addition to the fishing requirement. The leaping fish obtained can be used with a knife to obtain roe and caviar for use in the Herblore skill, and catching them gives small amounts of experience in Strength and Agility. The Pearl barbarian rod is cosmetic and not an improvement over the basic Barbarian rod, although it can be equipped which frees up a single inventory slot.

Deep sea trawling is a hybrid Fishing and Sailing activity, where players fish at trawling shoals using their boat's trawling nets.

Rada's blessing will give you an extra chance at catching a fish, with no additional experience granted, starting at 2% for the Rada's blessing 1 to 8% with the Rada's blessing 4.

Spirit flakes give a 50% chance of yielding double catch everywhere excluding Tempoross and the Ruins of Camdozaal, at the cost of one flake per fish caught (no additional XP is given). This stacks with Rada's blessing.

Diabolic worms, dropped by Yama, are a stronger alternative to sandworms that increase anglerfish catch success and give a 50% chance to speed up the next catch by one tick, but reduce experience from 120 to 79.2 per fish.

Shark lures are a fishing enhancer used as bait to increase the success rate of catching raw sharks, consuming a set number per catch, usable in batches of 1, 3, or 5 with diminishing experience, and storable in a tackle box. They are dropped from certain bosses and chests, reduce the Heron pet drop rate, and their faster catch speed makes them one of the best methods for obtaining moon key loop halves and the big shark.

This equipment strongly recommended for accessing the drift net fishing minigame in the Underwater section of Fossil Island.

Obtained through the Fishing Trawler minigame and aerial fishing, pieces of the angler's outfit grant a bonus to Fishing XP gained, increasing to 2.5% with the full outfit. The spirit angler's outfit, created by bringing pieces of the angler's outfit and spirit flakes to Gita Prymes, is functionally identical, but also acts as a rope for tethering to totem poles and masts while battling Tempoross.

Players may fish at various fishing spots located around Gielinor. The location of a fishing spot may move from one spot to another within the same area requiring the player to move to continue. The only exceptions to this are select fishing spots located within the wilderness, fly fishing spots south-east of Prifddinas, and Karambwan fishing spots.

• Draynor Village - To the south-west of Draynor Village's bank are some fishing spots. Here, players can net and bait fish. It is a great place to start fishing as there is a bank nearby. However, there are two level 7 Dark wizards that can be a problem for players under level 15.
• Mudskipper Point - South of Port Sarim are two to three fishing spots dotting the western shore of the peninsula, located behind the church and near Thurgo's shack. However, the nearest banks are either Draynor Village or Pest Control.
• Brimhaven - To the south of Brimhaven are some fishing spots. However, these spots are far away from a bank, so if a player wants to deposit their fish, it is recommended to fish at Draynor Village.
• Corsair Cove - To the south-west of the cove, south of the Corsair Cove Dungeon entrance.
• Lumbridge Swamp - At the east side of the swamp is the Fishing tutor, giving a free small net to players that have lost theirs, and some low-level fishing spots.
• Al Kharid - There are some shrimp fishing spots south of the Al Kharid bank, approximately as far as the fishing spots in Draynor Village are from the bank. However, the scorpions can be a problem for people with low levels.
• Catherby - Along the south-eastern shore. Close to a bank.
• Entrana - Players cannot bring any armour or weapons on Entrana.
• Isafdar - Could be useful for emergency food supplies.
• Piscatoris Fishing Colony - North-west of the Grand Tree, or by using the fairy ring code AKQ. Players can use a small net to catch monkfish, which are exclusive to this area. Piscatoris is only accessible after the completion of the Swan Song quest.
• Karamja lake - Shrimp and karambwanji. South of Tai Bwo Wannai.
• Wilderness Bandit Camp - There is one spot in the level 24 Wilderness. There is no bank, and aggressive level 22 and 130^{(members' worlds)} Bandits are nearby.
• Port Piscarilius - Along the north-eastern shore. Very close to a bank.

• Barbarian Village - On the eastern side of the village is the River Lum. In the river are some fishing spots where players can lure and bait fish. Players can bank in Soul Wars bank by using the portal south of Edgeville.
• Lumbridge - In the centre of Lumbridge is the River Lum. In the river are some spots where players can lure and bait fish. This used to be an unpopular fishing spot, until the addition of Lumbridge Castle's bank.
• Between Seers' Village and Sinclair Mansion
• Entrana - Players cannot bring any armour or weapons on Entrana.
• Tree Gnome Stronghold
• Shilo Village - Completion of the Shilo Village quest is required for entry into the village. These locations are quite close to a bank.
• Observatory - Not too far north of Castle Wars.
• Hosidius - Along the river north-west of Hosidius, and just to the east of the city kitchen task, where there is a bank chest.
• Water Ravine Dungeon - Unpopular spot due to distance from bank, need for Ancestral key and Robes of elidinis to access, and partial completion of Spirits of the Elid quest.
• North of West Ardougne, near Rasolo.

  Note: Trout and salmon can be sold to Rasolo for 2 and 5 coins respectively.

• Catherby - Along the south-eastern shore. Close to a bank.
• Fishing Guild - Requires 68 Fishing. Very close to a bank.
• Rellekka
• Burgh de Rott
• Land's End
• Ape Atoll

• Karamja - Behind Luthas' banana plantation on the northern part of the island is a small dock that has fishing spots where players can harpoon, cage, or net fish. Unfortunately, a bank is very far away, and players have to pay 30 coins to go to the island and 30 coins to leave the island, but there is a bank deposit box on the dock in Port Sarim. This place is rarely used by members, as better areas are available.
• Corsair Cove Resource Area - North of the Myths' Guild. Requires completion of Dragon Slayer I to access.
• Wilderness - At level 35 to 38 in the Wilderness are some harpoon and cage fishing spots in the waters at the eastern edge. Raw Dark Crabs can be fished off the north-eastern coast, south of the fence containing the members-only deep wilderness. However, players risk being attacked by other players here, and a bank is very far away.
• Resource Area - This members-only location contains Dark Crab fishing spots where a player can fish as long as they please as they can note their resources, via Piles for 50 coins per item noted. The fastest way to the location is the Edgeville Teleport Lever. Note that a player must spend anywhere from 7,500 coins to 3,750 coins without completion of the Wilderness Diary to gain entry to the area. Note that fishing here may place players in potentially dangerous PvP scenarios.
• Catherby - Along the south-eastern shore. Close to a bank.
• Rellekka - Very useful if fighting in the area due to the lack of bank.
• Fishing Guild - Requires 68 Fishing. Very close to a bank.
• Piscatoris Fishing Colony - Here players can net and harpoon fish after the completion of the Swan Song quest.
• Burgh de Rott - Sharks only.
• Iorwerth Camp - Sharks only, good area if you are fighting, otherwise, it is far from a bank.
• Jatizso - Lobster, swordfish, sharks and close to bank. Requires completion of The Fremennik Trials.

• The Onyx Crest
• Laguna Aurorae
• Wintumber Island
• Buccaneers' Haven

These generally are one specific place for one specific type of fishing.

• Lumbridge Swamp Caves, Dorgesh-Kaan South Dungeon, Mort Myre Swamp, and south of Mort Myre - Bait fishing for slimy eels and cave eels.
• Lumbridge Swamp Caves, and Dorgesh-Kaan South Dungeon - Net fishing for frog spawn.
• Taverley Dungeon - Bait fishing using special equipment for lava eels. Only available after starting Heroes' Quest.
• Piscatoris Fishing Colony - Here, players can net fish for monkfish after the completion of the Swan Song quest. The bank is very close. Also has harpoon fishing for tuna and swordfish.
• North of the east Karamja island - Karambwan fishing.
• Port Khazard - Trawler fishing.
• ScapeRune - Here, players can net fish cooked fish and uncook them in the uncooking pot. This is part of the Evil Bob random event.
• Zul-Andra - Bait fishing for sacred eels. Requires starting the Regicide quest.
• Mor Ul Rek - Bait fishing using an oily fishing rod and bait while wearing ice gloves are required to catch infernal eel. Can only be caught once a player has proven themselves worthy enough to enter the city by showing a TzHaar guard guarding the entrance a fire cape
• Lake Molch - Aerial fishing using a Cormorant to catch fish from fishing pools that move every 7–12 seconds.
• Fishing Guild platform - Minnows can be caught in Kylie Minnow's fishing platform with a small net. They can be exchanged for noted raw sharks.
• Port Piscarilius - Anglerfish can be caught along the north-western shore; this location is very close to a bank.

Due to engine features some locations end up with fishing spots that cannot move or move at reduced rates compared to other locations. This can be desirable for AFK / minimal effort fishing.

• Cage / Harpoon (Raw lobster, Raw tuna, Raw swordfish)
  • Isle of Souls: North-East side of the island. Use fairy ring BJP
    • Four static fishing spots that do not move.
• Harpoon / Net (Raw shark, Raw bass, etc)
  • Isle of Souls: South-East side of the island.
    • Five potential fishing locations but 4 fishing spots are fighting over them. Each spot moves approximately 75% less often than other locations. Use Soul wars bank.
• Fishing spot (karambwan)
  • South of Musa Point, Use fairy ring DKP
    • Most well known static fishing location.
• Fishing spot (frogspawn)
  • Dorgesh-Kaan South Dungeon: North-east of Fairy Ring AJQ
    • One static fishing spot, bait for Raw slimy eel and Raw cave eel. Slightly better Fishing XP/click for AFK than Barbarian Fishing.
• Rod Fishing spot (lure, bait) South-east of Prifddinas southern gate. The Fly fishing spot does not move.

Fishing Trawler is a Fishing minigame found at Port Khazard. Level 15 Fishing is required to receive fish at the end of the trip. World 370 is the Old School RuneScape designated Fishing Trawler world. It can be overwhelming for a single player, so it is recommended to participate in a group.

Players board Murphy's trawler boat and work as a team to protect the boat from hazards and prevent it from sinking for five minutes as they sail across the oceans. Holes in the ship, flooding, sea monsters, and broken netting are all hazards players must overcome to keep afloat. Failing these tasks may shipwreck players and force them to swim back to shore.

If the trawler net is not ripped at the end of the trip, players may receive fish based on their Fishing level. This is one of the few methods in which you can catch sea turtles and manta rays. There is a 1/12 chance to receive a piece of the Angler's outfit after a successful trip. This outfit increases Fishing experience gain and allows access to special fishing areas.

Tempoross is a Fishing-based skilling boss found at the Ruins of Unkah. Players need at least level 35 Fishing to participate. World 341, 422, 463, and 531 are the Old School RuneScape designated Tempoross worlds.

Players board the boat on the dock and sail to Tempoross Cove to help the Spirit Anglers subdue Tempoross. As a skilling boss, players use Fishing to catch harpoonfish as ammunition, firing them out of cannons to weaken Tempoross while avoiding various special attacks. When Tempoross is weak enough it'll submerge and can be damaged directly by harpooning the pools near him. Players must be careful not to let Tempoross get too enraged as it'll wash them off the island.

Defeating Tempoross will grant Fishing experience and reward permits based on participation. These permits allow you to fish at the reward pool for a chance at many unique or high-quality fishing items in addition to fish based on your Fishing level. This is one of the few methods to gather sea turtles and manta rays. Other rewards include the coveted fish barrel, the tackle box, or the components to upgrade the Angler's outfit into the Spirit angler's outfit.

• The Heron is a members-only skilling pet that can be obtained while training Fishing. The chances of getting it are dependent on the player's Fishing level, and the time it takes to gather a resource.
• A tiny tempor may be obtained by fishing it from the reward pool outside the Ruins of Unkah after defeating the Tempoross.
• The Sailing skilling pet, Soup, can be obtained from the hybrid Fishing/Sailing method deep sea trawling.

Upon completing any of the following quests, players may choose to allocate experience to Fishing. These rewards usually come in the form of items, such as lamps or books, and are independent of any experience rewards directly received for completing the quest.

• Fishing/Experience table, a list of all Fishing experience sources
• Fishing/Level up table, a list of all requirements and unlockables within the Fishing skill

v t e Skills
Combat	Attack Strength Defence Ranged Prayer Magic Hitpoints
Gathering	Farming Fishing Hunter Mining Woodcutting
Production	Cooking Crafting Fletching Herblore Runecraft Smithing
Utility	Agility Construction Firemaking Sailing Slayer Thieving
Proposed skills	Artisan Warding Taming Sailing (2015 proposal) Shamanism
Related	Experience Skill mastery 200 million experience Summoning