Some Old School RuneScape goals are built around efficiency. Others are pursued simply because the challenge sounds funny. Bosby_ has now completed one of the latter: reaching Fishing level 99 while using only the Small Net, the basic fishing tool given to new players.
The achievement took two years and three months on a free-to-play account. Rather than switching to more valuable catches, Bosby repeatedly gathered shrimp and anchovies near the Al Kharid bank, then deposited the fish whenever the inventory filled.
It is the kind of low-interaction routine that suits a second monitor. Players can click the fishing spot, work on another task or play something else, then return when it is time to bank the catch. For more stories about unusual gaming goals and community achievements, browse RETROCADE’s arcade blog.
A two-year Small Net challenge
Bosby said the account began as a joke among friends before becoming a genuine long-term project. The plan was initially just something amusing to try, but the player ultimately stuck with it until the account reached the maximum Fishing level.
Because shrimp and anchovies offer very little experience, most players move on to larger fish relatively quickly. Bosby instead committed to the slowest possible version of the routine, averaging roughly 3,000 experience per hour because the character was left idle for long periods.
“My average xp/hr was something like 3000 given how AFK I was. I relish having the screen real estate back but I will miss catching those lil water bugs.”
Bosby documented the milestone in a Reddit progress post, explaining that the character began fishing on May 11, 2024, and reached level 99 on August 7, 2026.
The numbers behind level 99
- 275,196 raw shrimp caught
- 257,064 raw anchovies caught
- 4,304 hours played
- Two years and three months from start to finish
- Free-to-play account throughout the challenge
The game’s official account recognised the accomplishment on August 10, 2026, congratulating Bosby on completing the only known Small Net Fishing level 99 achievement. The milestone was also discussed by members of the 2007scape community.
When “nothing matters” becomes the point
The challenge naturally attracted some criticism. In the discussion, Bosby explained that a full inventory took about 20 minutes, after which they could remain away from the game for another 10 to 20 minutes before returning to the fishing spot or bank.
When one commenter questioned the value of celebrating an achievement that “does not matter”, Bosby answered with a simple line: “Nothing matters.” It is a fitting summary of the project. The value was not in the experience rate, the loot or the account’s competitive advantage, but in setting an absurdly specific target and refusing to abandon it.
That sort of self-imposed challenge is familiar across gaming, from deliberately difficult RPG runs to players restoring old cabinets one component at a time. RETROCADE’s arcade videos and arcade machine buying guide offer a different kind of long-term gaming inspiration, whether you are planning a home setup or simply comparing ways to play.
Bosby now has the Fishing level 99, the official recognition and, most importantly, a great deal more screen space available for other games and tasks. The small net has finally earned its retirement.
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