Fishing is one of the F2P skills in Old School Runescape, that can be trained with both F2P and P2P methods. It is a very slow skill to train, and making money with fishing is not that profitable, but it helps. Follow our OSRS fishing guide in order to learn the ins-and-outs of the Skill, through simple processes, detailed tables, and a ton of icons to help you identify each item quicker!
This skill allows you to catch fish that can be found in some specific spots around the OSRS world. Each kind of fish has its specific spot and equipment to catch and that also requires you to have specific 
Fishing levels in addition to some other requirements.
You can make money from this skill by selling the Fish to the Grand Exchange, or you can cook it to make edible food that gives you 
Hitpoints when eaten. The cooked Fish can also be sold to the Grand Exchange, but the profits might be lower as you may burn some Fish depending on your 
Cooking level.
In this article, we will introduce the fastest way to level 99 Fishing as well as some money-making methods. Almost all of the methods below will be semi-AFK, and keep in mind that Fishing training is fairly cheap, as you only pay for the equipment.
While you can focus on training fishing the conventional way, you can also engage in Aerial or Barbarian Fishing, which will let you train more skills simultaneously!
To start fishing, you need to find a 
fishing spot that allows you to catch the desired fish. Each fishing spot in the game has different fishing options, each option requires different fishing equipment and it gives you a specific range of fish.
These fishing options also require you to have a specific Fishing level, and the required fishing equipment for each option will be explained later in this article.
Clicking on the fishing spot while having the required fishing equipment in your inventory is all you have to do, then your character will automatically start fishing until you get a full inventory or the fishing spot depletes.
Barbarian Fishing is a type of fishing activity that gives you Fishing XP, 
Strength XP and 
Agility XP. Although the Strength and Agility XP gained from this method is not great, it is a good way to train 3 skills at the same time.
To be able to do that, you will need to finish the Barbarian Fishing task in the Barbarian Training. You start the Barbarian training by speaking to Otto Godblessed NPC near Baxtorian Falls. Talk to him about the Barbarian training while having at least level 48 Fishing, 15 Strength and 15 Agility.
These levels are required to be able to catch Fish from Otto’s lake, and you can do that by using the 
Barbarian Fishing Rod which can be found underneath the bed in his house. There are only 3 types of Fish can be caught this way; 
Leaping trout, 
Leaping Salmon and 
Leaping sturgeon. Each type has its required levels to be caught and can only be caught this way in either Otto’s Lake or Mount Quidamortem.
The Leaping Fish is cannot be cooked (unlike the normal Fish) but used instead to get 
Roe and 
Fish offcuts by using a 
Knife on them.
There is also another type of Barbarian Fishing where you can catch Fish with bare hands. instead of using a 
Harpoon. This type of Barbarian Fishing requires at least level 55 Fishing and level 35 Strength. It gives Fishing XP and Strength XP only unlike the Barbarian Rod method.
There are only 3 types of Fish can be caught using Bare hands; 
Tuna, 
Swordfish, and 
Shark. Each one of them has its required Strength and Fishing levels. This type of Barbarian Fishing can only be done in fishing spots with the “Harpoon” option as its mainly used to replace the Harpoon.
Note that both of the Barbarian Fishing ways above may require you to complete some other Tasks during the Barbarian Training.
It is another type of Fishing that gives you XP in both Fishing and 
Hunter Skills by catching Fish at Lake Molch Island. It requires you to have a level 35 Hunter and level 43 Fishing.
To be able to start fishing this way, you need to have a 
Cormorant’s glove equipped to be able to send the 
Cormorant to the fishing spots in Lake Molch by clicking on them.
The Cormorant’s glove and the Cormorant itself can be obtained for free from Alry the Angler at Lake Molch.
Bait is needed to perform this type of Fishing and the main Bait used is 
King worms which can be found on the island. You can only catch specific species this way which is shown in the table below.
These fish species cannot be cooked but using a Knife to cut them will produce 
Fish chunks which can be used as a Bait instead of King worms.
Fishing in Lake Molch has a chance of finding 
Molch pearls which can be used to get some fishing items from Alry the Angler’s Angling Accessories but the most important item to obtain this way is the 
Angler’s outfit.
The Fishing Guild is a place where you get an invisible Fishing boost of level 7. This place can only be accessed once you reach level 68 or higher. The boost won’t allow you to catch Fish that require a higher level than your actual Fishing Level.
The place is known to be a good spot for Fishing and storing your Fish instead of dropping it due to the close distance to the bank.
Fishing Contest is a Fishing quest that allows you to catch Minnows in the Fishing Guild at level 82 Fishing upon completion. Players usually complete it for this specific reason only because catching Minnows can be a not bad way to make money off Fishing.
This quest is a short and easy P2P quest, so it is advised to complete it if needed, however, you won’t need it to follow our guide.
Fishing chance[edit | edit source]
| Item | Members | Skills | XP | Materials | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herring |
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One of RuneScapes Monty Python references is revealed if players use a herring (cooked or raw) with any tree in RuneScape (except the one outside the Draynor Village bank, in which the security guard is hiding). The text will say This is not the mightiest tree in the forest, in reference to one of the lines in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. If used with the Grand Tree, the text replies It cant be done! in reference to another line in the movie.
Raw herring is an item that is obtained through the Fishing skill by using a fishing rod with fishing bait on a fishing spot with the option Bait. Catching a raw herring grants 30 Fishing experience. It can be cooked into herring with a Cooking level of 5, granting 50 Cooking experience.
Fly Fishing Rods
Fly Fishing Rods are used to catch Fish species in the rivers. You need Feathers to be able to use the 
Fly Fishing Rod which can be bought from some 
fishing shops such as Fishing Guild Shops or by killing monsters such as Chickens.
They can only be used in fishing spots that have a “lure” option like these in Barbarian Village. Only some specific Fish species can be caught this way such as 
Trouts.
FAQ
Where do I fish for herring Osrs?
- Draynor Village: To the south of Draynor Village’s bank.
- Thurgo’s Peninsula: South of Port Sarim, dotting the western shore of the peninsula, located behind the church and near Thurgo’s shack.
- Karamja: North-west Karamja (members)
- Lumbridge Swamp: At the east side of the swamp.
Where can I find herring?
How do you catch herring?