Fastest Fishing XP in OSRS
- Theoatrix
- Mar 4
- 3 min read
What's going on guys, my name's Theoatrix and today I'll be covering the fastest fishing XP in 2026 for Old School Runescape.
Guide Outline
If you would prefer to watch a video-version of this guide, I have linked that below. Otherwise, continue scrolling to read the written-version of this guide.
Level 1 - 3 Ticking
Did you know that you can 3 tick from level 1 fishing?
With an admiral pie boost, you can 3 tick sardines for the fastest fishing XP rates from level 1.
Tempoross
But for the fastest possible fishing XP rates, here are the top 3 methods, starting with number 3, which is Tempoross!
It's possible to get up to 95k fishing XP per hour while using a crystal harpoon, and without cooking.
3 Tick Barbarian Fishing
The second fastest fishing method in the game is 3 tick barbarian fishing.
Where you can achieve 108k fishing XP per hour at max efficiency. That's only possible at high fishing levels, but even without a high level, barbarian fishing is one of the fastest methods in the game if you're 3 ticking.
2 Tick Swordfish
And.. the fastest fishing method in the game, is 2 tick swordfish, with a crystal harpoon.
This can give over 130k XP per hour, which means its over 20% faster than all of the other methods. At around 70 fishing, 2 tick swordfish already gives 90 to 100k XP per hour, and it steadily increases from there.
To 2 tick, you need to go to Port Piscarilius and get the aggression of 2 rats, and you need auto retaliate on with a bow equipped without ammo. Then you make sure they're attacking you every 2 ticks, and every time a hit splat appears, you click the fishing spot.
Fastest Pathway to 99 (No tick manipulation)
Now here is the fastest PATHWAY to 99 fishing, without tick manipulation.
You can see that Tempoross plays a major role here, reaching XP rates of up to 95k per hour with the crystal harpoon. It's possible to go from 1 to 99 fishing in around 170 hours if you target Tempoross.
Fastest Pathway to 99 (Tick manipulation)
But that's actually not the fastest pathway to 99… this is the fastest way to 99, but this pathway involves tick manipulation.
You start with 3 tick bait fishing, and three ticking a BAIT fishing spot is actually a bit different to a FLY fishing or barbarian fishing spot. You have to time it differently, where you wait an extra tick after starting the 3 tick action…
Then theres 3 tick barb fishing, and 2 tick swordfish, which will get you to 99 in a bit over 100 hours.
Drift Net Fishing
But there's one more efficient way to 99 fishing that I haven't spoken about yet… and that is drift net fishing, and this can give nearly 90k fishing XP per hour, while providing competitive hunter XP rates at the same time.
At level 70 hunter and fishing you can get a little over 85k fishing XP and 115k hunter XP at the same time, which makes it the most efficient method if you're going for the max cape.
Two of the fastest max cape speedruns ever done used drift net fishing over the conventional tick manipulation fishing methods. If you're interested in learning more, I've linked the 2 speedrunners, He Box Jonge and JCW.
Anyways, that's how you get the fastest fishing XP in 2026 for OSRS.
If you learnt something today, be sure to leave a like for more Old School Runescape content. Thanks for reading.