A player known as Bosby has achieved the maximum level of 99 in Old School RuneScape's Fishing skill by adhering to a highly restrictive challenge: catching only shrimp and anchovies. This remarkable feat, spanning over two years, has garnered official recognition from the Old School RuneScape X account.
Bosby began this endeavor on May 11, 2024, with an account named OnlyShrimp99. The chosen fishing method necessitated the use of a Small Fishing Net, as larger catches are unattainable with this tool. This deliberate limitation meant focusing solely on the lowest-tier fish available in the game. The project concluded on August 7, 2026, after a total of 4,304 hours were invested.
Detailing the process on Reddit, Bosby explained that the account originated as a lighthearted idea among friends, which he then committed to seeing through. During the two years and three months of his challenge, Bosby also started a new job, got married, and made new friends, often treating the gameplay as a secondary activity while multitasking.
To reach level 99 Fishing, players typically need to accumulate 13,034,431 experience points. Shrimp provide 10 experience points each, while anchovies offer 40. Bosby's journey involved catching approximately 275,196 raw shrimp and 275,064 raw anchovies to reach the required experience total. He meticulously banked all these catches as a memento of his unique accomplishment.
Bosby's unusual achievement gained significant traction on social media, eventually catching the attention of the official Old School RuneScape X account. In response, the developers created a custom in-game style graphic of a shrimp to congratulate Bosby. "Congrats on the only small net 99 Fishing, Bosby! Our data team has verified your accomplishment," the official account posted. Bosby expressed his gratitude, calling the artwork incredible.
While Bosby has not yet decided on his next long-term in-game project, he has considered attempting to reach level 99 Smithing by crafting bronze daggers, though he remains noncommittal about following through with this particular challenge.