Non-Members Runescape Fishing and Cooking Guide

Fishing is one of the most important skills in Runescape. This fishing guide will inform the reader on the best way to train their fishing level and where and which fish to catch.

I decided to write a Runescape Fishing and Cooking Guide because fishing is one of the most profitable activities in Runescape and it was the first real way I made my gold. Cooking is a necessary skill to have when fishing so you can cook what you catch and sell it off.

I understand that the majority of the Runescape community are not members and therefore I will write this guide specifically targeted towards free to play players. This guide is helpful to members as well so feel free to use it. I assume the reader to have around 1000 gold for buying bait and feathers.

Fishing is one of the best skills you can have in Runescape, especially if you're looking to go into the wilderness. Food is in high demand by PvP so it's always easy to sell your catch. Fishing only really becomes profitable at level 40. Level 40 fishing is the key level in which you will start to make large amounts of money because you can fish lobsters. Lobsters are one of the best foods to eat because they heal 12 HP and are quite easy to get a hold of.

Unlike Swordfish, Lobsters will be caught 100% of the time. Swordfish are caught along with tuna, so it can be a slow process having to drop all the tuna because tuna is basically worthless. Swordfish do however heal 14 HP as opposed to the 12 HP which lobsters heal and sell for more, so you can't really go wrong if you choose to fish lobsters or swordfish.

At levels 1-5, you are stuck using the net you were given on tutorial island. Just keep fishing shrimp until you can reach level 5. Once your inventory is full, you should chop down a tree and light a fire so you can cook your shrimp for the cooking experience you will later need to cook lobsters. Drop the cooked and burnt shrimp and repeat the process. Near the altar just south of Port Sarim is a great place to fish for beginners.

Once you are level 5 you can now start fishing using bait and go for sardines. Sardines like shrimp are pretty much useless so you should be cooking them for the experience and then dropping them. Buy a standard fishing rod and around 200 bait from the fishing shop. 200 should be enough for when you will start to use feathers. Keep fishing using this method until level 20.

At level 10 you will be able to fish herring. Cook these too for the experience and then drop them. At level 15 you have the option of bringing your net back out to fish anchovies but in my opinion, it's not really worth it. It is best to just stick with the rods.

You should now be level 20 in fishing. As soon as you reach level 20 go to the fishing shop and by a fly fishing rod and a LOT of feathers. At least 400. If you can't afford 400 or run out of feathers, go to the farm north-east of Lumbridge and kill chickens until you have enough.

It sounds like a lot but it actually shouldn't take that long because when feathers are dropped there are at least 5 (though they only drop around half the time you kill a chicken). You should use your fly fishing rod to catch trout at Lumbridge. At level 25 you have the option of bringing out your standard fishing rod and bait to fish pike, but again, it's not necessary.

In my opinion, stick with fishing trout. At level 30 you will be able to catch salmon. Trout and salmon should both be cooked and dropped. Level 20 to 40 is the longest process so be patient. At level 35 you have the option of buying a harpoon and fishing tuna but I don't recommend it because it's rather slow. Also, remember to use up ALL your bait and feathers before moving onto the next stage so you won't be wasting your gold (you are practically paying for fishing experience).

Once you are level 40, this is the big break. You no longer have to keep buying bait and feathers and instead, all you have to carry around is a lobster pot (buy one from the fishing shop). There is only one place for non-members to fish lobsters and that is at karamaja which unfortunately, costs to travel to. It costs 60 gold for a 2 way trip to karamaja (30 each way). There is no bank at karamaja and there aren't many trees so I suggest you just carry all your lobsters back to Port Sarim, cook them at the range there (drop the burnt ones) and then bank the lobsters at Draynor.
At first, you might burn maybe 1/3 of your lobsters but as your cooking level improves you will burn less. Remember to make your inventory have as much space as possible, while carrying the essentials so you will be able to catch and bank more. Once you reach a goal amount of lobsters (mine is 500), go to Varrock bank and sell them to players from around 200-250 each. This is BIG money and you should have that full rune armour in no-time.

Once you have a fishing level of 50 you have the option of harpooning swordfish at Karamaja. Swordfish heal even more than lobsters and sell for more. There is a big catch however, and that is that you will not only fish swordfish, but fish crappy tuna as well. The process is slow because you will have to drop tuna and then start fishing again. It's really a matter of personal preference. I prefer lobsters myself, and they are generally favored more by everyone else but you can't go wrong either way.

Fish Stats:
Shrimp

Required level to fish: 1
Required level to cook: 1
Experience given: 10
HP healed: 3
How to fish: Small fishing net

Sardine

Required level to fish: 5
Required level to cook: 5
Experience given: 20
HP healed: 4
How to fish: Fishing rod, bait

Herring

Required level to fish: 10
Required level to cook: 10
Experience given: 30
HP healed: 5
How to fish: Fishing rod, bait

Anchovies

Required level to fish: 15
Required level to cook: 10
Experience given: 40
HP healed: 1
How to fish: Small fishing net

Trout

Required level to fish: 20
Required level to cook: 15
Experience given: 50
HP healed: 7
How to fish: Fly fishing rod, feathers

Pike

Required level to fish: 25
Required level to cook: 20
Experience given: 60
HP healed: 8
How to fish: Fishing rod, bait

Salmon

Required level to fish: 30
Required level to cook: 25
Experience given: 70
HP healed: 9
How to fish: Fly fishing rod, feathers

Tuna

Required level to fish: 35
Required level to cook: 30
Experience given: 80
HP healed: 10
How to fish: Harpoon

Lobster

Required level to fish: 40
Required level to cook: 40
Experience given: 90
HP healed: 12
How to fish: Lobster pot

Swordfish

Required level to fish: 50
Required level to cook: 45
Experience given: 100
HP healed: 14
How to fish: Harpoon

That now concludes my fishing guide for Runescape. Good luck in your fishing and keep at it. Getting to 40 can be really boring at times but it's very rewarding once you get there. Happy fishing.