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This article is about the Fishing skill. For information on training Fishing, see Fishing training (F2P) (P2P).

Fishing

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.

Listen to audio.
Fishing level-up music (link)
The first music that can be played when levelled up.
Listen to audio.
Fishing level-up music (link)
The second music that can be played when levelled up.

Fishing supplies[]

Locations of fishing shops where players can buy supplies are:

Free-to-play[]

Members[]

Equipment[]

Runescape skill fishing

A player fishing on a fishing spot.

Players need the right kind of equipment to catch the fish they want. 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.

Nets[]

The first few fish players can catch require nets. Fishing nets can only be used in the seas. 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 Villiage, Lumbridge Swamp, Musa Point, The coastline near Rimmington, The wilderness bandit camp, Al Kharid, and Corsair Cove

Fishing rods and bait[]

Baiting

This player is using a fishing rod.

Fishing rods are required for mid level fishing. Rods can be used 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.

There is also an oily fishing rod. However, only members can use this rod. It is required to catch lava eels and is needed in the Heroes' Quest.

Fly fishing rods and feathers[]

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.

Harpoon[]

Harpooning

This player is using a harpoon to fish.

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.

There are four types of harpoons - the regular harpoon, the barb-tail harpoon, the Dragon harpoon and the Infernal harpoon. All harpoons catch fish at exactly the same rate except the dragon harpoon which has a 20% faster catch rate. The barb-tail harpoon, dragon harpoon and infernal 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 absolutely nothing but their hands. Levels are higher and also require a Strength level, but fish are caught a bit faster and it saves an inventory space.

Lobster cages[]

Caging

This player is using a lobster pot to catch lobsters.

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.

Karambwan vessels[]

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 northeast shore north of the Ship Yard.

Barbarian Fishing[]

Members with a level 48 in Fishing can speak with Otto Godblessed in his home near Baxtorian Falls to learn special barbarian methods of fishing. First, he instructs the player on heavy rod fishing. Heavy rod fishing 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, 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 fish you catch this way are as follows:

Fish Levels
required
Experience
gained
Fishing icon Strength icon Agility icon Fishing icon Strength icon Agility icon
Leaping trout Leaping trout 48 15 15 50 5 5
Leaping salmon Leaping salmon 58 30 30 70 6 6
Leaping sturgeon Leaping sturgeon 70 45 45 80 7 7

After this, the player can learn how to fish tuna, 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.

Note: When you are catching swordfish via barbarian methods, you will still receive tuna along with swordfish if you have the required levels for both.
Warning: If you learn this method and don't have the levels required for hand fishing swordfish, you will only be able to fish tuna unless you carry/wield a harpoon.
Fish Levels
required
Experience
gained
Fishing icon Strength icon Fishing icon Strength icon
Raw tuna Tuna 55 35 80 8
Raw swordfish Swordfish 70 50 100 10
Raw shark Shark 96 76 110 11

Fishing spots[]

Main article: Fishing spots

Players can catch fish with nets at these spots:

Net and bait fishing spots[]

Lure and bait fishing spots[]

Big net fishing spots[]

Harpoon and cage fishing spots[]

Other fishing spots[]

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

Fish[]

Main article: Fish

When a player catches a fish, it will be raw and cannot be eaten until it is 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".

Fishing Trawler[]

Main article: Fishing Trawler

Fishing Trawler is a Fishing minigame run by Murphy that players can play at Port Khazard. Players need at least level 15 Fishing to participate. Players board a trawler boat and work as a team to prevent the boat from sinking as they are sailed for 12 minutes around the sea. It can be overwhelming for a single player, so it is recommended to participate in a group. World 370 is the Old School RuneScape designated Fishing Trawler world. If the trawler net is not ripped by the end of the trip, players may receive saltwater fish up to their Fishing level and other assorted items (i.e. rusty swords). The Fishing Trawler is the only method to catch sea turtles and manta rays. Players have a 1/8 chance to receive a piece of the Angler's outfit and a 1/5,000 chance of receiving the heron pet.

Random events[]

Main article: Random events

While fishing, players encounter random events which were specific to Fishing. However, an update in 2014 removed all random events that were considered dangerous or disruptive. Players can still encounter random events while fishing, but interacting with them will be completely optional.

Moving fishing spot[]

While fishing, a fishing spot may move from one spot to another. Players will have to move to the new spot to continue fishing.

Clue in a bottle[]

Main article: Clue bottle

While fishing, players may receive a clue bottle that contains a clue scroll of varying difficulties: easy, medium, hard and elite.

River troll (discontinued)[]

Main article: River troll
River troll

A river troll.

While fishing, a river troll may appear and start attacking a player. They can deal a large amount of damage and their combat level depends on the player, though it will always be higher. The level ranges from level 14 to level 170. Players can either run away from them or fight them. River trolls have meagre drops consisting of items related to Fishing, such as 1 raw fish of any kind or 1-5 fishing bait.

Big fish (discontinued)[]

Main article: Big fish

While fishing, a big fish may appear in a fishing spot and steal a player's fishing equipment and spit it somewhere nearby, usually 3 to 10 squares away. When this happens, the player has to find their equipment quickly before someone else sees it and grabs it. When the player has found the equipment, they can go back to fishing.

Whirlpool (discontinued)[]

Main article: Whirlpool

While fishing, a whirlpool may appear in a fishing spot. If a player continues to fish in the whirlpool, their fishing equipment may be taken by it and not returned. Players are strongly advised to quit fishing when one appears and wait until it disappears, which usually takes about 30 seconds.

Evil Bob[]

Main article: Evil Bob

While fishing or practicing Magic, players may be transported to ScapeRune, the dominion of Evil Bob, where everything is the opposite of RuneScape. To escape, players must catch a cooked fish using a small fishing net (several spawn on the beach), uncook the caught fish on a fire, and give it to Evil Bob. After eating the fish (if players feed Evil Bob a cooked fish, they must feed him another uncooked fish for every cooked fish they fed him to get him to fall asleep), Evil Bob falls asleep and the player can enter portal next to Evil Bob to return. The player receives 650 Fishing or Magic experience depending on what skill was being used at the time.

Temporary boosts[]

Main article: Temporary skill boost
Fishing cape emote

A player wearing a Fishing cape (t) and performing the Skillcape emote

Quests rewarding Fishing experience[]

Quest Experience
reward
Fishing req. Other requirements
Recipe for Disaster
(Pirate Pete subquest)
1,000 - 31 Cooking icon
Fishing Contest 2,437 10 Fishing icon -
Heroes' Quest 2,725 53 Fishing icon 55 Quest point icon, 53 Cooking icon, 25 Herblore icon, 50 Mining icon
The Fremennik Trials 2,812 - 25 Fletching icon, 40 Woodcutting icon, 40 Crafting icon if crafting your own lyre
Tai Bwo Wannai Trio 5,000 5 Fishing icon 15 Agility icon, 30 Cooking icon
Rum Deal 7,000 50 Fishing icon 42 Crafting icon, 40 Farming icon, 47 Prayer icon, 42 Slayer icon
Sea Slug 7,175 - 30 Firemaking icon
Swan Song 10,000 62 Fishing icon 100 Quest point icon, 66 Magic icon, 62 Cooking icon, 45 Smithing icon, 42 Firemaking icon, 40 Crafting icon
Total 38,149

Skill choice[]

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.

Quest Experience
reward
Skills available Skill requirements
Client of Kourend 500 twice Any -
Fairytale II - Cure a Queen 2,500 Any skill above 30 49 Farming icon, 57 Herblore icon
A Tail of Two Cats 2,500 twice Any skill above 30 -
The Great Brain Robbery 5,000 Any skill above 30 16 Crafting icon, 30 Construction icon, 50 Prayer icon
King's Ransom 5,000 Any skill above 50 65 Defence icon
Darkness of Hallowvale 2,000 three times Any skill above 30 5 Construction icon, 20 Mining icon, 22 Thieving icon, 32 Crafting icon, 33 Magic icon, 40 Strength icon
Curse of the Empty Lord
(miniquest)
10,000 Any skill above 50 Some players will need 31 Prayer icon
One Small Favour 10,000 twice Any skill above 30 36 Agility icon, 25 Crafting icon, 18 Herblore icon, 30 Smithing icon
Recipe for Disaster
(The final battle)
20,000 Any skill above 50 175 Quest point icon, 48 Agility icon, 50 Mining icon, 53 Fishing icon, 53 Thieving icon, 25 Herblore icon, 59 Magic icon, 40 Smithing icon, 50 Firemaking icon, 40 Ranged icon, 40 Crafting icon, 10 Fletching icon, 10 Slayer icon, 36 Woodcutting icon
Total 74,500


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