Table of Contents
1.0 - Introduction
2.0 - Basics
3.0 - Equipment, Fish and Levels
3.1 - Equipment and Bait
3.2 - Species of Fish
4.0 - Miscellaneous
4.1 - Fishing Level Enhancement
4.2 - Surprises
4.3 - Random Events
4.4 - Barehanded Fishing
5.0 - Strategies
6.0 - Experience from Quests
7.0 - Frequently Asked Questions
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1.0 - Introduction
There are many forms of sea life out there, just waiting for you to catch them. Through
the art of fishing, you will be able to catch them all! Fishing is a calm, relaxing and
repetitive skill, which is quite easy to raise. The higher your fishing level is, the
faster you will obtain your desired fish. This guide will teach you all about the fishing
skill and the benefits of a good fishing level. There are many fishing locations
throughout RuneScape. As usual, members have the edge in fishing, with the Fishing Trawler
mini-game, the Fishing Guild, and Catherby - the biggest out-of-guild fishing area closest
to a bank.
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2.0 - Basics
As you would have learned on Tutorial Island, fishing is a very easy skill. Here is a
basic tutorial incase you do not remember how to fish. First, make sure you have the
proper fishing equipment in your inventory. Then right click on the fishing spot, marked
by the on the minimap, for your fishing options.
Now just select which option you would like to use. If you have a small fishing net, then
you should click "Net Fishing spot". Once you do this, you will automatically
start fishing, and will stop when your inventory is full, or when the fishing spot moves.
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3.0 - Equipment, Fish and Levels
3.1 - Equipment and Bait
The following table is a list of all the fishing equipment in RuneScape.
Equipment Name Picture Bait Level To Use Places To Obtain
Net None 1 Tutorial Island
Port Sarim Fishing Shop
Catherby Fishing Shop
Fishing Tutor
Fishing Rod Bait 5 Port Sarim Fishing Shop
Catherby Fishing Shop
Big Net None 16 Catherby Fishing Shop
Fly Fishing Rod Feathers 20 Port Sarim Fishing Shop
Shilo Village Fishing Shop
Harpoon None 35 Port Sarim Fishing Shop
Catherby Fishing Shop
Barbtailed Harpoon None 35 A reward for trapping a Barbtailed Kebbit (Hunter).
Lobster Cage None 40 Port Sarim Fishing Shop
Catherby Fishing Shop
Barbarian Rod Bait 48 From Otto Godblessed, below the Barbarian Outpost.
Oily Fishing Rod Bait 53 Quest Item
Karambwan Vessel Karambwanji 65 Quest Item
The next table shows the four types of fishing baits.
Bait Name Bait Picture Where to find
Bait Port Sarim Fishing Shop, Killing Zombies
Catherby Fishing Shop
Feathers Port Sarim Fishing Shop
Chicken Drop
Karambwanji Fish with small net
south of Tai Bwo Wannai village.
Stripy Feathers Hunting the Tropical Wagtail.
3.2 - Species of Fish
The following shows the experience that each fish gives when you catch it, as well as what
equipment to use, and what level you need to catch it.
Type of Fish Fish Picture (Raw) Equipment Level to Fish Exp. Level to Cook Locations
Shrimp Net 1 10 1 South of Al-Kharid, Bandit Camp (wilderness), Catherby, Entrana, N.
Karamja, South of Port Sarim, Lumbridge, Draynor Village
Karambwanji Net 5 10 1 South of Tai Bwo Wannai village
Sardine Fishing rod
Bait 5 20 1 South of Al-Kharid, north of West Ardougne, Bandit Camp (wilderness),
Catherby, Draynor Village, Entrana, west of Fishing Guild, N. Karamja, South of Port
Sarim, North of Seers' Village, Tree Gnome Stronghold
Herring Fishing rod
Bait 10 30 5 South of Al-Kharid, Bandit Camp (wilderness), Catherby, Entrana, Fishing
Guild, N. Karamja, south of Port Sarim, Rellekka, North of Seers' Village, Tree Gnome
Stronghold, north of West Ardougne, Draynor Village
Anchovies Net 15 40 1 South of Al-Kharid, Bandit Camp (wilderness), Catherby, Entrana, N.
Karamja, south of Port Sarim, Lumbridge, Draynor Village
Mackerel Big net 16 20 10 Ape Atoll, Burgh De Rott, Catherby, Fishing Guild, Rellekka,
Tirannwn, Fremennik Isles
Trout Fly-fishing rod
Feather 20 50 15 Barbarian Village, north-east of Castle Wars, Lumbridge, north of Seers'
Village, west of the Fishing Guild, Shilo Village, Tirannwn, Tree Gnome Stronghold, north
of West Ardougne, north-west of Yanille
Cod Big net 23 45 18 Ape Atoll, Burgh De Rott, Catherby, Fishing Guild, Rellekka,
Tirannwn, Fremennik Isles
Pike Fishing rod
Bait 25 60 20 Barbarian Village, west of the Fishing Guild, Lumbridge, Rellekka, north of
Seers' Village, Shilo Village, Tirannwn, Tree Gnome Stronghold, north of West Ardougne,
north-west of Yanille, Lumbridge
Slimy Eel Fishing rod
Bait 28 65 25 Swamps of Morytania, Lumbridge Swamp Caves
Salmon Fly-fishing rod
Feather 30 70 25 Barbarian Village, north-east of Castle Wars,Lumbridge, north of Seers'
Village, west of the Fishing Guild, Shilo Village, Tirannwn, Tree Gnome Stronghold, north
of West Ardougne, north-west of Yanille
Giant frogspawn Net 33 75 N/A Lumbridge Swamp Caves
Tuna Harpoon 35 80 30 Catherby, Fishing Guild, N. Karamja, Rellekka, level 35 north-east
Wilderness, Fremennik Isles
Cave eel Fishing rod
Bait 38 80 38 Lumbridge Swamp Caves
Rainbow Fish Fly-Fishing 38 80 35 Seers' Village lake, Barbarian Village and Shilo
Village.
Lobster Lobster cage 40 90 40 Catherby, Fishing Guild, N. Karamja, Rellekka, level 35
north-east Wilderness, Fremennik Isles
Bass* Big net 46 100 43 Ape Atoll, Burgh De Rott, Catherby, Fishing Guild, Rellekka,
Tirannwn, Fremennik Isles
Swordfish* Harpoon 50 100 45 Catherby, Fishing Guild, N. Karamja, Level 35 north-east
wilderness, Fremennik Isles
Lava Eel Oily fishing rod 53 60 53 Middle of the Lava Maze in the Wilderness, Taverley
Dungeon
Monkfish Net 62 120 62 The Piscatoris Fishing Colony (Must have completed the Swan Song
Quest)
Karambwan Karambwan vessel 65 105 1 North-east corner of southern Karamja
Shark* Harpoon 76 110 80 Ape Atoll, Burgh De Rott, Catherby, Fishing Guild, Rellekka,
Tirannwn, Fremennik Isles
Sea Turtle Trawler boat 79 38 82 Trawler Fishing Boat
Manta Ray Trawler boat 81 46 91 Trawler Fishing Boat
* - These fish can, at random, be caught as "Large fish" which you are able to
get "stuffed" at Canifis, to mount in the skill hall room of your house.
The following table shows all the fish that can be caught at Otto's Grotto, and their
required Fishing, Strength, and Agility levels to catch.
Fish Name Fish Picture Fishing Level Required Strength/Agility Level Required Fishing
Experience Strength/Agility Experience
Leaping Trout 48 15 50 5
Leaping Salmon 58 30 70 6
Leaping Sturgeon 70 45 80 7
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4.0 - Miscellaneous
4.1 - Fishing Level Enhancement
There are many different potions in RuneScape. One is used for fishing and raises your
fishing level by 3 levels. There are also two pies available that enhance the fishing
level. The fish pie raises your fishing level by 3. The admiral pie gives the best
increase by raising your fishing level by 5.
There are three basic reasons to raise your fishing level with a fishing potion or the
pies:
1. One use of a fishing potion (or the pies) is to get into the Fishing Guild at level 63
or 65 instead of level 68. For more information on the Fishing Guild, please see the
Fishing Guild guide.
2. Another use of a fishing potion (or the pies) is to catch fish faster. It does not work
very well, but often times; it can turn a catch of two in a row, to a catch of three or
four in a row, which saves a few minutes of your time. A popular use of fishing potions is
to catch sharks, to sell for profit. For example, one fishing potion (~3k) would catch
around 10 sharks, giving a ~7k profit.
3. An uncommon use of the fishing potion (or the pies) is to improve the catch from the
trawler at the end of the game. Most people drink their fishing potions during the trawler
trip and before they check their net to raise their chances of an excellent catch.
4.2 - Surprises
Fishing with a Big Net
When fishing with a big net, you will be quite surprised on your first time, as you may
notice that you can get up to five fish at a time with the big net. This makes obtaining
fish a lot faster. In addition, when using your Big Net, you will obtain things such as
boots, gloves, and caskets. The casket is member's only and cannot be traded with free
players, though the boots and gloves can. When fishing with a big net, you can also
receive seaweed.
A casket is a large "trunk" used to hold items. It can hold as little as 20gp,
and as much as a half key.
Stuffing Large Fish
When fishing for swordfish, bass or sharks, there is a chance that you will receive a
large version of the fish. This fish can be stuffed by the taxadermist in Canafis and put
into your skill hall. The below table shows the Large fish as well as the construction
level needed to mount it.
Picture Name Level to Catch Picture Level to Mount
Large Bass 46 36
Large Swordfish 50 56
Large Shark 76 76
4.3 - Random Events
Four skill specific random events can happen while fishing. Be on your guard!
River Troll
A large, green troll will appear and start to attack you. You can either kill it, or run
away. The following shows what level the Troll will be depending on your combat level.
Level 159 if you are level 91+
Level 120 if you are levels 61-90
Level 79 if you are levels 41-60
Level 49 if you are levels 21-40
Level 29 if you are levels 11-20
Level 14 if you are levels 3-10
Big Fish
A large fish will appear in the fishing spot, take your fishing equipment, and spit it out
in a random direction.
Moving Fishing spot
At random times, your fishing spot may move away from you. This is the most common random
event when fishing.
Whirlpool
A whirlpool will start where you are fishing, and if you do not stop, it will take your
fishing equipment and keep it. The whirlpool only affects the player who just made the
cast when it appeared, as well as any other players that start fishing in the whirlpool
spot. Whirlpools do not affect players already fishing in the spot when they appear.
4.4 - Barehanded/Heavy Rod Fishing
Fishing with your hands
Speak to Otto Godblessed about the barbarian fishing methods; he will talk to you about
catching fish with your arms instead of a harpoon. In order to be able to fish without a
harpoon you must have at least level-55 fishing and must have caught at least one fish by
harpooning.
Go to an area where you can harpoon swordfish, tuna or sharks; the Fishing Guild and
Catherby are good choices. Click on the harpoon spot as you would normally, but without a
harpoon equipped or in your inventory and you will catch a fish using your arm as bait!
Picture Name Required Fishing Level Strength Level Required Fishing Experience Strength
Experience
Tuna 55 35 80 8
Swordfish 70 50 100 10
Shark 96 76 110 11
Heavy Rod Fishing
Speak to Otto once more and this time ask about fishing rod methods, he will tell you that
barbarians use stronger fishing rods to catch leaping fish in the lake nearby. Search
under his bed and collect a heavy barbarian rod, make sure to also have fishing bait or
feathers on you. Use the fishing spots around the lake and hook a leaping fish (you must
have at least level-48 fishing).
Picture Name Required Fishing Level Strength and Agility Level Required Fishing Experience
Strength and Agility Experience
Leaping trout 48 15 50 5
Leaping salmon 58 30 70 6
Leaping sturgeon 70 45 80 7
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5.0 - Strategies
Free Players
Fishing 1-20
Head to Draynor Village with a fishing net. Go south of the bank until you see some
fishing spots. You will be here for a while. It is not exactly lightning training, but it
will have to do. By level 20, the level gains will seem slow, and it is time to prepare
for the next step.
Get feathers either by buying them or by killing chickens for them. If you are level 15-40
combat, I recommend killing them because at your level, you will save money for bigger,
more important purchases, and you will kill them relatively fast. When you have a lot of
feathers (I recommend at least 5000), go to Port Sarim (just west of Draynor Village and
south of Falador) and buy a Fly fishing rod for about 5gp.
Fishing 21-60
Head north to Barbarian Village. A word of warning: you are going to be here for a while.
Fly-fishing is straightforward. Bring your rod and 1k of your feathers, and click
"Lure" on the fishing spots. If you get a full inventory, it is faster to drop
them than to bank them. If you wish, you may cook them in the Long Hall, but I suggest you
drop them raw for the best experience. It gets boring, but it is the best experience you
can get. If you run out of feathers, just go get more. To help level faster, you could
also trade your raw fish away to other players. Be sure to trade all the fish at once.
This is the only way trading will be faster.
Fishing 61-75
Here you have two options: you may stay at Barbarian Village and fly-fish, or you may go
to Port Sarim with about 80gp and buy a Lobster cage, then take the ship to N. Karamja. I
suggest fishing until you have run out of feathers, then heading to N. Karamja.
On N. Karamja, head into the plantation and onto the dock. It is fun to fish here if you
can find a populated world, because people are always talking while they fish. You will be
full before you know it. When you have a full inventory, look around for a fire. If you
see one, cook your Lobsters and either drop them, give them to someone, or sell them. I
recommend dropping them as it is fastest, but some people like to sell them to the nearby
General Store. Continue this until level 75 fishing. This is probably the slowest section
between two levels, so be patient.
Fishing 76+
You can continue with Lobsters, as they get a bit faster around this level. Alternatively,
you could grab a harpoon and seek out Swordfish and Tuna. At level 76, you will get a nice
amount of Swordfish. You may do the same with Swordfish/Tuna as with Lobsters: drop, sell,
or trade. You will get to your desired level soon enough; remember, patience is a virtue.
Members
Fishing 1 to 20
This is just the same as free players: Head to Draynor Village with a fishing net. Go
south of the bank until you see some fishing spots. You will be here for a while. It is
not exactly lighting training, but it will have to do. By level 20, the level gains will
seem slow, and it is time to prepare for the next step.
Get feathers either by buying them or by killing chickens for them. If you are level 15-40
combat, I recommend killing them because at your level, you will save money for bigger,
more important purchases, and you will kill them relatively fast. When you have a lot of
feathers (I recommend at least 5000), go to Port Sarim (just west of Draynor Village and
south of Falador) and buy a Fly fishing rod for about 5gp.
Fishing 21-80
That is right, you are going to get about 2 million experience at the same spot. However,
it will go by fast. Even at level 60+ Fishing, you will be gaining two or three levels a
day easily.
Grab your fly-fishing rod and about 35,000 feathers. If you cannot afford them, just get
about 5k feathers off chickens and head to Shilo Village (must have completed the Shilo
Village quest). In Shilo Village, with your fishing rod and feathers, just north of the
bank should be a few fishing spots. Fish an inventory of them, and sell them to the
fishing store just south-east of the river. Now buy back as many feathers as you can
afford and fish another inventory. You should never run out of feathers like this. If you
are doing this, try to find a world with no one but you so that there are always feathers
in stock.
Stay here fishing and banking/selling until you have used up all your feathers and/or hit
level 80. It will take a lot less time than you might think.
Fishing 81-99
Grab your harpoon and head over to the Fishing Guild in Hemenster, north of Ardougne. Find
a spot close to the bank and begin harpooning for shark at net/harpoon spots OR tuna and
swordfish at Harpoon/Cage spots. I suggest just banking the fish until you have achieved
your desired level. If you are going from 80 to 90, you will need almost 3.4M experience
and you will fish either:
42,004 Tuna
33,603 Swordfish
30,548 Sharks
Assuming you fish 20 percent Sharks, 35 percent Swordfish, and 45 percent Tuna on your way
to level 90 (fishing at both the shark and tuna/swordfish spots), that is about 37
thousand fish. This means: 18,900 Tuna, 11,760 Swordfish, and a whopping 6,100 Sharks.
Cook the Tuna and save them as they are decent training food. Cook the Swordfish sell
them; which at 350 each becomes 4.1M gp. Cook the sharks (or trade the raw sharks for
cooked) and sell them for about 900gp each for 5.5M.
Many players also wish to get their Fishing up by fishing for experience only. There are
two effective ways, how to get fast Fishing experience. Head to Shilo Village and grab a
fly fishing rod and also feathers. Start catching salmons and trouts, best way is to bank
them, as you can make a little profit and also this is faster than dropping. This is the
fastest way to get fishing experience, but the negative side of it is, that it doesn't
give you profit. For profit and a bit slower experience, catching monkfish is your best
bet. Head to Piscatoris Fishing Colony, bring a small net with you and start catching
monkfish. The experience is really good and also monkfish sell for 300-400 coins each,
which makes it a perfect spot for fast experience and money.
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6.0 - Experience from Quests
Fishing Contest: 2,437 XP
The Fremennik Trials: 2,812 XP
Heroes Quest: 2,725 XP
Recipe for Disaster (Saving Pirate Pete): 1,000 XP
Rum Deal: 7,000 XP
Sea Slug: 7,175 XP
Swan Song: 10,000 XP
Tai Bwo Wannai Trio: 5,000 XP
Quests with a choice Experience
A Fairy Tale Part II: 2,500 XP in any skill of your choice over level 30.
Great Brain Robbery, The: 5,000 XP for any skill you choose over level 30.
Legends Quest: 7,650-30,600 XP (7,650 is given to 4 skills from a list of skills)
One Small Favour: 10,000-20,000 XP (2 x 10,000 lamps for any skill of your choice over
level 30)
Recipe for Disaster: 20,000 XP (A Lamp to grant 20,000xp in a skill of your choice over
level 50)
7.0 - Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I catch more salmon/swordfish at higher fishing levels vs trout/tuna?
A: At higher levels of fishing you can catch more higher level fish, but remember it's all
random.
Q: What is the difference between a barb-tailed harpoon and a normal harpoon?
A: You can wield a barb-tailed harpoon, which gives you one more space in your inventory.
This allows you to catch one more fish per load.
Q: Where is the best place to fly-fish?
A: The best place to fly-fish would be in Shilo Village, however the Shilo Village quest
is required to be able to fish. For free players or members who have not completed the
Shilo Village quest, fishing in the Barbarian Village would be probably best, with the
closest bank in Edgeville. You could also try fishing at Seers' Village, as there is a
bank closer than that of the Barbarian Village.<table
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