OSRS Fishing Training: Every Method Compared From Level 1 to 99

Reaching level 99 in OSRS Fishing takes 13,034,431 experience points, so the route you pick matters a lot. Most players choose between steady, low-effort methods that let them stay busy with other things, and faster, more active routes that reward close attention. On a free-to-play account, fly fishing trout and salmon is the classic pick. You can start at level 20 with a fly-fishing rod and feathers, and it can carry you all the way to 99 without a membership. Early on, expect about 13,000 Fishing XP per hour at level 20, climbing to roughly 50,000 per hour at level 99 if you drop your fish instead of banking them.

Feathers are the big running cost. The free-to-play route from level 20 to 99 uses about 225,000 feathers, which comes to roughly 675,000 GP at the Grand Exchange guide price of 3 GP each. That number moves with the market, so check the current price before you commit. Members have more options. Barbarian Fishing starts at level 48, needs 15 Agility and 15 Strength, and trains those skills too. Keep reading to see how each method compares, and find the one that fits your level, your account, and how much time you want to step away.

Key Takeaways

• Free-to-play players can fly fish trout and salmon from level 20 all the way to level 99 without a membership, but the route uses about 225,000 feathers along the way.
• Fly fishing at level 20 gives about 13,000 Fishing XP per hour, and that rate climbs to roughly 50,000 per hour at level 99 when you drop your fish instead of banking them.
• Members with 48 Fishing, 15 Agility, and 15 Strength can learn Barbarian Fishing from Otto Godblessed, which trains Strength and Agility alongside Fishing.
• Ironman accounts cannot buy feathers from the Grand Exchange, so Ironman players should pick a Fishing method that matches the feathers they can gather themselves.
• Members at level 82 Fishing can try Anglerfish at Sea, a very AFK boat route at a fixed spot that yields about 15,000 Fishing XP per hour at level 82.

Choosing an OSRS Fishing Method by Level and Account Type

Reaching 99 takes about 13 million XP, so the method you pick shapes the whole journey. Before you choose, ask yourself three things: what level you are, how much attention you can give, and whether you can afford consumables like feathers.

Your level decides what is available. On a free-to-play account, the free-to-play Fishing guide estimates net XP of about 1,500 to 3,000 per hour from level 1 to 20. Once you reach level 15 and can catch anchovies, that rate rises to around 7,500 per hour. Fly fishing takes over from level 20.

If you have a membership and sit somewhere between levels 48 and 70, Barbarian Fishing is worth a look. You need 48 Fishing, 15 Agility, and 15 Strength, and you learn the method from Otto Godblessed. Leaping trout, salmon, and sturgeon also train Strength and Agility. The Barbarian Fishing guide estimates about 23,000 XP per hour at level 48 and 37,000 at level 58 for AFK rates.

For a low-attention option at the top end, members can fish Karambwans from level 65 up to 99. At level 99, the rate is about 42,000 XP per hour with a fish barrel, and up to 46,000 with a fish barrel, an angler’s outfit, and efficient banking.

Ironman accounts need a different plan. You cannot buy feathers from the Grand Exchange, so you must gather your own feathers or catch fish yourself. A method that burns through hundreds of thousands of feathers costs you time instead of coins, so pick methods that match what you can gather.

Fly Fishing: The Steady Free-to-Play Trout Route

Fly fishing is the route most free-to-play players start with, and it opens at level 20. You need a fly-fishing rod and feathers, and you cast at river lure spots to catch trout. Salmon join the catch from level 30, which adds more XP to each trip. The rod is reusable and is listed at 276 coins on the official Grand Exchange page, so feathers are the real running cost.

Barbarian Village is a common choice on the eastern side of the village beside the River Lum, and Lumbridge is another option. Shilo Village works too, but you must finish the Shilo Village quest first.

Your XP rate climbs as your level rises. You can expect about 13,000 Fishing XP per hour at level 20, about 25,000 at level 30, and around 50,000 at level 99, provided you drop your fish instead of banking them. Keeping fish changes the pace, so think about that before you start.

If you want speed, the pay-to-play Fishing guide says 3-tick fly fishing is the fastest Fishing XP method up to level 58 when you use tick manipulation. It asks for more hands-on input, because you have to time your inputs precisely, so it suits players who enjoy staying involved.

At a glance

• Best for: Free-to-play players from level 20 who want a steady trout and salmon route toward 99.
• Cost: A reusable fly-fishing rod, plus a feather for every catch.
• Location or availability: River lure spots such as Barbarian Village and Lumbridge, with Shilo Village open after its quest.

Shrimp and Anchovy Fishing: The Level 1 to 20 Start

Shrimp and anchovy fishing is the simplest start for a brand-new free-to-play account, and it needs no quest. Grab a small fishing net. The Fishing tutor near Lumbridge gives one out for free, or you can buy one from fishing shops for 5 coins. Head to a net fishing spot at Lumbridge Swamp or Draynor Village. You can catch shrimp from level 1, and anchovies join in at level 15.

This is a low-attention method, not a fully hands-off one. You still need to click again whenever the fishing spot moves, and you need to empty your inventory if you keep the catch. Dropping your fish instead of banking them gives you the best XP. If you do want to bank, Draynor Village is a handy choice because its spot sits close to a bank.

Expect roughly 1,500 to 3,000 XP per hour before anchovies unlock, then around 7,500 XP per hour once you can catch them at level 15. Most players use this method until about level 20, then move on to fly fishing.

At a glance

• Best for: Brand-new free-to-play accounts training from level 1 to about 20
• Cost: A small fishing net, free from the Fishing tutor near Lumbridge or 5 coins from fishing shops
• Location: Net fishing spots at Lumbridge Swamp, Draynor Village, and Al Kharid

Sea Slug: A Quest Shortcut Past Early Levels

Sea Slug is a members-only quest, and it works as a one-time boost rather than a training method. You need 30 Firemaking before you can start, but there is no Fishing requirement. Begin by speaking to Caroline on the coast north of Witchaven, east of Ardougne. Holgart then uses swamp paste to repair the boat that carries you to the Fishing Platform.

Once you reach the platform, you work through an interactive investigation. Finishing it pays a one-time reward of 7,175 Fishing XP, enough to take a level 1 account to about level 24. This is active questing, so you must click through each quest step yourself. You earn the XP once, which means there is no ongoing fishing loop and no XP-per-hour rate to compare with other methods.

For a sense of scale, the Fishing Contest reward gives 2,437 XP, so Sea Slug is far larger. Think of it as a jump start. Once you reach about level 24, switch to a repeatable method such as Fly Fishing, which opens at level 20.

At a glance

• Best for: Level 1 accounts that want a fast start in Fishing, up to about level 24
• Cost: Swamp paste is listed at 42 coins at the Khazard General Store at full stock, 60 coins from Rasolo, or 75 coins from a Trader crewmember. Prices change often, so check the official site for current details.
• Location or availability: Starts near Witchaven, with the trip to the Fishing Platform made by boat. Members only.

Barbarian Fishing: The Mid-Level Route With Bonus XP

Barbarian Fishing suits players who have reached the middle of the skill. You can start at level 48 Fishing, but the better catches unlock as you climb. Leaping salmon need 58 Fishing with 30 Agility and 30 Strength, and leaping sturgeon need 70 Fishing with 45 Agility and 45 Strength.

To begin, find Otto Godblessed at his grotto by the lake atop Baxtorian Falls. Ask him about heavy-rod fishing, then search under his bed for the barbarian rod. You do not need to finish the Barbarian Training miniquest. The official Jagex poll describes the spot at the top of the waterfall near the Chambers of Xeric. Your bait can be fishing bait, feathers, fish offcuts, or roe. Gutting your catches with a knife gives you offcuts for bait, plus roe or caviar.

The regular method is low-effort, so you can step away while the rod does the work. Each leaping catch also gives a little Strength and Agility XP, so you train those skills in the background. The 3-tick version takes much more active clicking, but the payoff is large. Low-effort fishing reaches about 57,000 Fishing XP per hour at level 99, while 3-tick fishing climbs to about 108,000 at the same level.

At a glance

• Best for: Members between levels 48 and 70 who want Fishing XP plus Strength and Agility XP.
• Requirements: 48 Fishing, 15 Agility, 15 Strength, and a chat with Otto Godblessed.
• Location: The lake near Otto Godblessed’s Grotto, atop Baxtorian Falls.
• Availability: Members only.

Drift Net Fishing: Training Fishing and Hunter Together

Drift net fishing is a members’ method on Fossil Island, and it trains Fishing and Hunter at the same time. You set nets in the underwater area, so it is a good pick when you want both skills to climb together. You need at least 47 Fishing and 44 Hunter, plus completion of Bone Voyage, before you can start.

Going underwater takes some preparation. A fishbowl helmet and diving apparatus, both from the Freeing Pirate Pete subquest, let you breathe below the surface. Flippers help you swim faster, and a trident or dragon harpoon is recommended for chasing shoals.

This method is not AFK. Shoals can drift into your nets on their own, but you will train much faster if you chase them into the nets, and that means clicking again and again. Leave your nets alone and you still earn XP, just at a slower pace. Every net you use is consumed, and the Wiki estimates you will use about 80 to 110 nets per hour. The official Grand Exchange listing showed a drift net price of 1,792 coins when checked, so nets are your main running cost.

Guidance estimates roughly 75,000 Fishing and 100,000 Hunter XP per hour at lower levels, rising to about 100,000 Fishing and 135,000 Hunter XP per hour at higher levels. Your real rate depends on how well you chase shoals and manage your nets.

At a glance

• Best for: Members with at least 47 Fishing and 44 Hunter who want to train both skills together.
• Cost: Access is 200 numulites for the day or 20,000 numulites for permanent access, plus 5 numulites per banked harvest. Nets are used up as you go.
• Location or availability: The underwater area of Fossil Island, after completing Bone Voyage. Members only.

Fishing Karambwans: A Low-Attention Option for Members

Karambwan fishing is a members’ method that opens at level 65, once you finish Tai Bwo Wannai Trio. The quest gives you a karambwan vessel, and the method suits players from level 65 up to 99 who want a steady, low-effort route to 99. Tiadeche’s stall in Tai Bwo Wannai sells karambwan vessels for 2 coins each.

You bait the vessel with raw karambwanji and fish at a fixed spot in eastern Karamja, close to fairy ring DKP. You can catch the raw karambwanji with a small net near fairy ring CKR. The spot never moves, so you can fill your whole inventory without clicking again. A fish barrel is optional, but it holds your catch and stretches the time between banking trips. That is what makes this method low-attention rather than fully hands-off.

The pay-to-play Fishing guide estimates about 29,000 XP per hour at level 65 and 42,000 at level 99, with banking and some idle time included. Optimized level 99 setups can reach 46,000 XP per hour. That is modest next to Barbarian Fishing’s 57,000 XP per hour at level 99, but you can keep the fish or sell them.

At a glance

• Best for: Members from level 65 who want a low-attention route to 99
• Cost: A karambwan vessel, which sells for 2 coins each at Tiadeche’s stall, plus raw karambwanji bait
• Location or availability: A fixed spot in eastern Karamja near fairy ring DKP, unlocked by Tai Bwo Wannai Trio

Monkfish at Sea: Boat Fishing From Level 62

Monkfish at Sea arrived with Jagex’s sea-fishing update, and it is a members’ method you can start at level 62 Fishing. You sail a raft to the fixed spot north of Piscatoris Fishing Colony and catch monkfish with a small fishing net. Each fish gives 120 Fishing XP, so the payout is solid for the mid-levels.

The spot does not move or despawn, so you can fish for a while without hunting for a new one. Catches go straight into the raft’s cargo hold. The Fishing training guide describes the sea spot as a more AFK option, with roughly 3 to 4 minutes of fishing per inventory, which makes it a good fit if you want to step away from the screen.

Expect about 34,000 Fishing XP per hour as a general estimate for monkfish at sea, which is decent AFK training. The guide notes the rates are similar to land fishing when you bank your catch, so the boat’s main advantage is how little clicking it asks of you.

Before you set sail, you need a raft, a small fishing net, 75 Sailing, and partial completion of Swan Song. The official announcement from Jagex explains that monkfish at sea can only be caught from a raft.

At a glance

• Best for: Members from level 62 to 82 who want low-effort Fishing XP.
• Location or availability: The fixed spot north of Piscatoris Fishing Colony, reached by raft. Members only.
• Requirements: A raft, a small fishing net, 75 Sailing, and partial completion of Swan Song.

Anglerfish at Sea: The Level 82 Boat Option

Anglerfish at Sea sits at the top of the boat fishing ladder, and you need 82 Fishing before you can try it. It is members-only, so it is not an early-level option. You will need a fishing rod and either sandworms or diabolic worms, plus access to a player boat and enough Sailing to reach the spot. Monkfish at Sea covers levels 62 to 82, so it is the boat method you use before this one.

The fixed spot is what makes this method so relaxed. It sits slightly north-east of the Piscarilius foodhall, does not move or despawn, and you fish it straight from your boat. Because you never chase a shifting spot, you can go about six to seven minutes between checks per inventory. Your catches go into the boat’s cargo hold, and you sail back to Port Piscarilius when you are ready to bank them at the dock’s deposit box.

XP rates are modest, at about 15,000 Fishing XP per hour at level 82 and 23,000 at level 90. Diabolic worms push that higher, to roughly 30,000 per hour at level 82 and 39,000 at level 99. The worms are used up as bait, so your running cost depends on their current price. You still need to check back on your boat and bank eventually, so this is very AFK but not completely hands-off.

At a glance

• Best for: Members at level 82 Fishing who want a very AFK boat route and don’t mind sailing back to port.
• Cost: A fishing rod and sandworms or diabolic worms, which are consumed as bait at their current price.
• Location or availability: A fixed offshore spot slightly north-east of the Piscarilius foodhall, reached by player boat with Sailing. Members only.

Dark Crabs: High-Level Wilderness Fishing With Risk

Dark crabs are a members-only method for players with 85 Fishing. You catch them in the Wilderness Resource Area using a lobster pot and dark fishing bait, and each catch gives you 130 Fishing XP. There is no quest to finish first, so once you reach level 85 and have the right tools, you can head straight there.

The fishing itself is relaxed because the dark crab spots never move. You can go about 3.5 minutes between checks, so you can step away from the screen for a while. Many players bring the Elite Wilderness Diary, which improves the catch rate. At level 99, the chance to catch a dark crab rises from 16% to 34% with the diary, so it is worth having on hand.

The catch comes with real danger. The Wilderness Resource Area sits deep in the Wilderness, where player killers can attack you while you fish. If one does, you can lose items, so bring defensive gear and escape supplies before you walk in. Piles will turn your crabs into banknotes for 50 coins per crab, which saves you from carrying a full inventory around.

At a glance

• Best for: Members at level 85 Fishing who want relaxed training and can handle Wilderness risk.
• Cost: A lobster pot and dark fishing bait, plus defensive gear and escape supplies.
• Location or availability: The Wilderness Resource Area, most easily reached using the Edgeville lever. No quest is required. Members only.

Side-by-Side Look at Every OSRS Fishing Method

Nine methods are spread across the early, mid, and late levels, so scan the level column first, then check the account type. Each row covers the one thing you need to know before you pick a method.

Method	Level needed	Members or free-to-play	AFK or active	XP note	Main cost or requirement
Shrimp and Anchovy	1 (anchovies from 15)	Free-to-play	Low-attention	About 1,500 to 3,000 XP per hour, then about 7,500 once anchovies unlock	Small fishing net
Fly Fishing	20	Free-to-play	Active	About 13,000 XP per hour at level 20 when you drop your fish	Fly-fishing rod and feathers
Sea Slug	30 Firemaking	Members	Active quest	One-time 7,175 XP	Swamp paste and quest steps
Barbarian Fishing	48	Members	Low-effort	About 23,000 XP per hour at level 48 AFK	15 Agility, 15 Strength, heavy rod
Drift Net	47 Fishing, 44 Hunter	Members	Active, click-heavy	Trains Fishing and Hunter together	Nets, used up as you fish
Karambwans	65	Members	Low-attention	About 42,000 XP per hour at level 99 with a fish barrel	Karambwan vessel and raw karambwanji
Monkfish at Sea	62	Members	AFK at a fixed spot	120 XP per monkfish	Raft, small fishing net, 75 Sailing
Anglerfish at Sea	82	Members	Very AFK at a fixed spot	Modest XP, higher with diabolic worms	Fishing rod and sandworms or diabolic worms
Dark Crabs	85	Members	Relaxed, with Wilderness risk	130 XP per catch	Lobster pot, dark fishing bait, defensive gear

If you are on a free-to-play account, your choice is simple: shrimp and anchovies up to level 20, then fly fishing. Members have more room to choose, so think about how much time you want to spend clicking. A method at a fixed spot lets you step away from the screen, while Drift Net and the active Barbarian Fishing 3-tick route reward you for staying close.

Picking Your First Fishing Spot Today

Open your skills tab and check your Fishing level, then find the matching row in the table above. If you are level 1 on a free-to-play account, walk to Lumbridge Swamp and start with shrimp. Keep fishing there until you reach level 15, then add anchovies to lift your hourly XP.

Once you hit level 20, head to Barbarian Village, a common fly fishing spot, once you have a fly-fishing rod and feathers. Before you buy your first batch of feathers, check the current Grand Exchange price and decide how much you can spend each week. Feathers are your biggest running cost, so a small budget keeps the route sustainable.

Members sitting at 48 Fishing with 15 Agility and 15 Strength should walk to the lake atop Baxtorian Falls and speak to Otto Godblessed. If you play an ironman account, skip the Grand Exchange and gather your own feathers from chickens in Lumbridge before you commit to any method that uses them.

Pick one spot tonight and fish it for a full hour. Write down your XP per hour, then compare that number with the estimates in this guide. Your own result will tell you whether to stay put or move up to the next method.