Fishing

Fishing is one of the oldest skills in the game, and one of the most common activites. Caught fish are cooked, and often sold to other players due to their property of healing hitpoints. The highest level (and therefore highest healing) fish can often fetch high prices.

How to fish
Fishing is one of the most popular skills in RuneScape. To fish, players must first find a 'fishing spot'. These fishing spots can be found near land in seas and rivers.

Equipment
Players need the right kind of equipment to catch the fish they want. Fishing equipment can be purchased in fishing stores. Free players can buy fishing equipment from the fishing store in Port Sarim, while members can also buy 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. Free players can only use small fishing nets while members can also use big fishing nets. The big nets only allow players to catch more fish and sometimes items such as boots. When a player has found a fishing spot, they can then use their net if the option 'net fishing spot' is available.

Fishing rods and bait
Fishing rods are required for mid level fish. Fishing rods can be used in both rivers and seas. Along with a fishing rod, players also need bait to attract fish. Bait can be bought in stores, 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 fish lava eels and is needed for the Heroes Quest.

Fly fishing rods and feathers
Fly fishing rods are also required for mid level fish. These rods can only be used in rivers. Along with a fly fishing rod, players also need feathers to attract fish. Feathers can be bought in stores, but are also dropped by chickens and random events. 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 the the usual trouts and salmon.

Harpoons
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.

Lobster cages
Lobsters are caught in the sea, using lobster cages. When a player has found a fishing spot, they can then use their lobster cage if the option 'cage fishing spot' is available.

Karambwan vessel
Karambwan vessels (also know as just 'vessels') are only available to members. Karambwan vessels can be obtained from Lubufu south of Brimhaven once a player has started the Tai Bwo Wannai Trio quest. Karambwan Vessels can only be used on the lake that is near Lubufu.

Free-to-play fishing spots
Free players only have a few fishing spots.

Net and bait fishing spots
Players can catch fish with nets at these spots:


 * Draynor Village: To the 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, so players can fill their inventory with fish and then bank them and go back to fishing. However, there are 2 level 7 Dark Wizards that can be a problem for players under level 10.


 * South of Port Sarim: South of Port Sarim near Thurgo the dwarf's house are some fishing spots, but they're far away from a bank.


 * Karamja: Northwest of Karamja 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.


 * Piscatoris Fishing Colony: Northwest of Grand Tree, players can use a small net to catch Monkfish, which are exclusive to this area. Piscatoris is only accessable after the completion of the Swan Song Quest.


 * 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.

Lure and bait fishing spots

 * Barbarian Village: On the east side of the village is the river Lum. In the river are some spots where players can lure and bait fish. Although this spot isn't far from a bank, Lumbridge is a more preferable choice.


 * Lumbridge: In the center of Lumbridge is the river Lum. In the river are some spots where players can lure and bait fish. This used to be a little fished area, until the addition of Lumbridge Castle's bank. This is the most convenient lure and bait fishing spot for free players.

Harpoon and cage fishing spots

 * 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. Teleporting is faster, but is only helpful if players have jewellery or a weapon that can teleport them someplace close. Having teleport runes makes it hard to carry many fish, but is the only way for free players to avoid paying the 30 coins to get on/off Karamja. Members have an advantage while fishing here, as they can use the TzHaar bank to store their fish, which not only avoids paying 30 coins to get off Karamja, but is closer than banking at Draynor Village or Falador.


 * Wilderness: At level 35 to 38 in the Wilderness are some harpoon and cage fishing spots in the waters at the eastern edge. However, players risk being attacked by other players here, and a bank is very far away.


 * Piscatoris Fishing Colony: Here players can harpoon fish after the completion of the quest Swan Song. The bank is very close.

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 fished they are named "raw shrimps", but once cooked the name changes to "shrimps".

(*These fish can be cooked to either "poorly cooked" or "thoroughly cooked" depending on your fishing and cooking levels. The "cooked" images for these fish show them thoroughly cooked.) (Sometimes you may catch a big shark, bass, or sword fish. This can be stuffed and used for Construction.)

Free-to-play training

 * Level 1 to 20: Net fish at the fishing spots just outside of Lumbridge, in Draynor Village, or in Al-Kharid. This may seem slow and long, but players earn experience faster this way than by baiting fish.


 * Level 20 to 99: Lure fish at Barbarian Village or Lumbridge. This is a very fast method of raising a player's fishing level.


 * Level 35 to 99: Harpoon fish at Karamja.


 * Level 40 to 99: Cage lobsters at Karamja. Lobsters can be obtained very quickly giving good experience, faster than harpooning fish.

Pay-to-play training

 * Level 1 to 30: Fish at Catherby.


 * Level 30 to 40: Fly fish at at Shilo Village or at Barbarian Village, or stay in Catherby. However, to fish at Shilo, players need to have finished the quest Shilo Village.


 * Level 40 to 68: Fish lobsters at Catherby or fly fish at Shilo Village or Barbarian Village for slightly faster experience.


 * Level 68 to 76: Fish lobsters at the Fishing Guild. Monkfish at Piscatoris can also be used.


 * Level 76 to 99: Fish sharks at the Fishing Guild. Monkfish at Piscatoris can also be used. (Shark fishing is very slow at level 76. It might be a good idea to wait until level 80.)

The fastest way to gain fishing levels is 'powerfishing' at Shilo Village. Fly fishing for trout and salmon provides fast experience for almost all levels and the bank is located right next to the fishing spots. The only catch is that it requires the Shilo Village quest.

Making money
Fishing can be a great way to make money. Every player needs food to heal, making fish a market with a massive demand. It is recommended that players do not sell their fish to general stores or fish stores, but instead sell them to other players. The banks at Falador and Edgeville are the best places to sell fish. The bank at Catherby is also good for members.

Below is a list with the prices fish are usually traded for.


 * Shrimps: 3 to 5 coins
 * Karambwanji: 10 to 20 coins
 * Sardine: 5 coins
 * Herring: 10 coins
 * Anchovies: 10 to 20 coins
 * Mackerel: 20 to 30 coins
 * Trout: 30 coins
 * Cod: 25 coins
 * Pike: 40 coins
 * Salmon: 50 to 70 coins
 * Tuna: 50 to 100 coins
 * Lobster: 200 to 250 coins
 * Bass: 150 to 250 coins
 * Swordfish: 250 to 350 coins
 * Monkfish: 300 to 500 coins
 * Karambwan: 300 to 500 coins
 * Shark: 700 to 1,000 coins
 * Sea Turtle: 20,000 to 30,000 coins
 * Manta Ray: 20,000 to 30,000 coins

Many free players buy and sell lobsters and swordfish, while members prefer sharks.

Random events
Random events are events that happen at random times. They were introduced to stop "autoers", people who use a program to play automatically. Some random events include NPCs wanting players to do a task for them and rewarding them if they are successful or a monster that will attack the player. While fishing, players may encounter random events which are specific to fishing, listed below.

River Troll
While fishing, a river troll may appear and will 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 meager drops consisting of items related to fishing, such as 1 raw fish of any kind or 1-5 bait.

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
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.

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.

Evil Bob
While fishing or doing magic, a player may be transported to Scaperune with Evil Bob. To escape, the player needs to fish and uncook the caught fish and give it to Evil Bob. After doing this several times, 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

 * Fishing Potion, made using the Herblore skill, temporarily increases fishing by 3.
 * Fish Pie, made using the Cooking skill, temporarily increases fishing by 3.
 * Admiral Pie, made using the Cooking skill, temporarily increases fishing by 5.