How to Catch Swordfish in RuneScape: 5 Steps

Catching swordfish in RuneScape is one of those classic milestones that makes a player feel oddly powerful. One minute you are standing on a dock with a basic harpoon, pulling up tuna like a budget seafood intern. The next minute, boom: swordfish. Suddenly your inventory looks more valuable, your Fishing level feels respectable, and your character is basically a salty sea captain with questionable fashion sense.

Whether you play Old School RuneScape or modern RuneScape, swordfish remain a recognizable mid-level fish. They are useful for Cooking training, food supplies, money-making at lower and mid levels, and that satisfying feeling of turning a quiet fishing spot into your personal seafood factory. The method is simple, but doing it efficiently requires knowing the right Fishing level, tools, locations, banking plan, and what to do with the tuna that tags along like an uninvited party guest.

This guide explains how to catch swordfish in RuneScape in five practical steps. It also includes tips for free-to-play and members, common mistakes, and experience-based advice to help you avoid wasting time running across Gielinor like a lost tourist holding a harpoon.

Step 1: Reach Level 50 Fishing

The first requirement for catching swordfish is level 50 Fishing. This is the big gatekeeper. Before level 50, harpoon spots will mainly give you tuna if you meet the lower requirement for harpoon fishing. Once you hit level 50, those same cage/harpoon fishing spots can start producing raw swordfish.

Each swordfish catch gives Fishing experience, making it a decent mid-level training method, especially for players who want something simple and low-attention. However, swordfish fishing is not always the fastest Fishing experience in the game. Its appeal comes from being easy, familiar, and useful. You can fish swordfish while watching a video, chatting with friends, or contemplating why your character can carry an inventory full of raw fish but still needs five trips to organize a bank tab.

Good Ways to Train Before Swordfish

If you are not level 50 Fishing yet, train with shrimp and anchovies at very low levels, then move to trout and salmon with fly fishing once available. Fly fishing is often faster than early harpoon fishing because the catch rate is smoother and the spots are convenient. Lobsters can also be an option around the mid-level range, especially for players who want food or profit rather than maximum speed.

For many players, the most comfortable route is to use faster methods until level 50, then switch to swordfish once the unlock becomes available. The important thing is not to rush to swordfish too early. If the game tells you that you cannot catch them yet, it is not being dramatic. You simply need more Fishing experience.

Step 2: Bring a Harpoon

To catch swordfish, you need a harpoon or access to one through your game version’s tool system. In Old School RuneScape, a normal harpoon can be carried in your inventory. Some upgraded harpoons can be wielded or used for better convenience, depending on your progress and account type. In RuneScape 3, players often benefit from the tool belt system, which can make fishing tools easier to manage.

The basic harpoon is enough to begin. You do not need a giant shopping list. You do not need bait. You do not need feathers. You do not need to perform a ritual dance on the dock. Just bring the harpoon, find the correct fishing spot, and select the harpoon option.

Recommended Gear

For simple swordfish fishing, your setup can be extremely light. A harpoon is the essential item. If you plan to bank your fish, leave as much inventory space open as possible. If you plan to cook your catch nearby, bring logs or use a nearby range if one is available. Members may have access to better locations, teleport options, and quality-of-life gear that makes the process faster.

Do not overcomplicate the setup. Newer players sometimes think they need special equipment because swordfish sound impressive. In reality, RuneScape swordfish fishing is refreshingly old-school: one player, one harpoon, one fishing spot, and twenty-seven inventory slots waiting to smell like the inside of a seafood market.

Step 3: Choose the Right Swordfish Fishing Location

Swordfish are caught at cage/harpoon fishing spots. This detail matters because not every fishing spot with a harpoon option gives swordfish. Some harpoon spots are for other fish, such as sharks. When looking for swordfish, focus on cage/harpoon spots that produce tuna and swordfish together.

In Old School RuneScape, popular swordfish areas include Musa Point on Karamja, the Corsair Cove Resource Area for eligible free-to-play players, Catherby for members, and the Fishing Guild once unlocked. In RuneScape 3, players can also find swordfish at suitable cage/harpoon spots such as Karamja, Catherby, and the Fishing Guild, depending on account access and version-specific updates.

Best Free-to-Play Swordfish Spots

For free-to-play players, Musa Point on Karamja is one of the classic options. It is iconic, simple, and easy to recognize. The drawback is banking. Depending on your game version and available conveniences, getting fish back to a bank can be slower than catching them. That means Musa Point is great for nostalgia and simple fishing, but not always the best for profit per hour.

In Old School RuneScape, the Corsair Cove Resource Area can be useful for free-to-play players who have unlocked access. It offers a better banking situation than old-school Karamja methods, making it attractive for players who want to keep their raw swordfish instead of dropping them or making long trips.

Best Members Swordfish Spots

Members usually have better choices. Catherby is convenient because it has fishing spots near useful facilities. The Fishing Guild is even better once unlocked because it offers many fishing spots, a nearby bank, and a layout designed for long fishing sessions. For players who want to catch, bank, and repeat without turning every trip into a cardio workout, the Fishing Guild is one of the most comfortable options.

Location choice depends on your goal. If you want profit, choose a place with fast banking. If you want Cooking training, choose a spot with a nearby range or easy bank access. If you want pure relaxation, pick a dock you like and enjoy the rhythm. RuneScape is partly about efficiency and partly about standing next to strangers in silence while everyone pretends not to be calculating experience rates.

Step 4: Harpoon the Cage/Harpoon Fishing Spot

Once you are level 50 Fishing, have your harpoon, and reach the right location, find a cage/harpoon fishing spot. Interact with the spot and choose the harpoon option. Your character will begin fishing, and you will catch a mix of tuna and swordfish.

This is where many beginners get confused. Swordfish are not usually caught alone. Tuna comes from the same type of fishing spot, so your inventory will contain both. At lower Fishing levels, you may notice that tuna appears more often than swordfish. That is normal. As your Fishing level improves, the process feels smoother, and the swordfish catches become more consistent.

What to Expect While Fishing

Swordfish fishing is semi-AFK, meaning it does not require constant clicking, but you still need to pay attention occasionally. Fishing spots can move, your inventory fills up, and random distractions can make you stand there doing absolutely nothing while your character reflects on life choices. Check the screen every so often to make sure you are still fishing.

If your goal is maximum efficiency, reduce downtime. Stand close to the fishing spot, use the nearest bank, and return quickly after depositing your catch. If your goal is casual training, do not stress every second. Swordfish fishing has always been popular because it is simple and forgiving.

Step 5: Bank, Cook, Sell, or Use Your Swordfish

After your inventory fills with tuna and swordfish, decide what to do with the catch. You have four main options: bank the fish, cook them, sell them, or use them as food. The best choice depends on your account goals.

If you want money, bank the raw swordfish and check market prices before selling. Prices can change, so it is smart to compare raw and cooked swordfish before committing. Sometimes raw fish are valuable because other players buy them for Cooking training. Sometimes cooked fish are better if players need food for combat. The market has moods, and sometimes those moods are as confusing as a goblin with a law degree.

Cooking Swordfish

Swordfish can be cooked with the appropriate Cooking level. Cooking your catch can turn one skill-training session into two: Fishing first, Cooking second. This is a good plan for players who like self-sufficiency. Instead of buying food, you gather and prepare it yourself.

However, low Cooking levels can burn swordfish, causing waste. If you burn too many, consider training Cooking a bit more before processing a large stack. Using a range instead of an open fire may help in many situations, and certain items or unlocks may reduce burn rates depending on your game version.

Selling Swordfish

Selling swordfish is straightforward. Bank a stack, check the current market, and decide whether to sell raw or cooked. In Old School RuneScape, the Grand Exchange is the central trading hub for most players. In RuneScape 3, the Grand Exchange also plays a major role. If you are free-to-play, swordfish can be a satisfying way to build early cash while training a useful gathering skill.

Common Mistakes When Catching Swordfish

The most common mistake is going to the wrong fishing spot. Remember, you need cage/harpoon spots for tuna and swordfish. A different harpoon spot may be meant for other fish, and the game may not give you what you expect.

Another mistake is forgetting the harpoon. It sounds obvious, but every RuneScape player has experienced the proud march to a training spot followed by the crushing realization that the key item is still in the bank. That walk of shame builds character, but it does not build Fishing experience.

A third mistake is choosing a poor banking route. If you spend more time running to the bank than fishing, your experience and profit will suffer. This is why locations like the Fishing Guild are so popular. Convenience matters. The best fishing spot is not always the one with the prettiest water; it is often the one that lets you bank quickly and get back to work.

Is Catching Swordfish Worth It?

Catching swordfish is worth it if you want a simple mid-level Fishing method, useful food, Cooking supplies, or low-effort money. It is not always the fastest Fishing training method, and advanced players may eventually move to better experience or profit methods. Still, swordfish hold a special place in RuneScape because they are practical, accessible, and iconic.

For newer players, swordfish feel like progress. They are a step above basic fish and a sign that your Fishing level is becoming respectable. For returning players, swordfish bring nostalgia. Many people remember fishing on Karamja, running to the bank, or chatting at crowded docks while inventories filled one catch at a time.

Five-Step Summary

1. Get 50 Fishing

Train your Fishing level to 50 so you can catch swordfish at the proper harpoon spots.

2. Bring a Harpoon

Use a normal harpoon or an upgraded version if available. Keep your inventory mostly empty for more catches.

3. Find a Cage/Harpoon Spot

Choose a swordfish location such as Musa Point, Catherby, Corsair Cove Resource Area, or the Fishing Guild, depending on your account and access.

4. Select the Harpoon Option

Click the cage/harpoon fishing spot and begin catching tuna and swordfish.

5. Bank, Cook, or Sell

Deposit your catch, cook it for Cooking experience, sell it for coins, or keep it for combat food.

Extra Experience: Practical Lessons From Catching Swordfish in RuneScape

The first real lesson of swordfish fishing is patience. On paper, the method sounds beautifully simple: get level 50 Fishing, bring a harpoon, click a spot, collect swordfish. In practice, your inventory fills with tuna, the fishing spot moves at the exact moment you look away, and you start wondering whether your character is secretly allergic to swordfish. This is normal. Swordfish fishing is a rhythm, not a jackpot machine.

One useful experience-based tip is to treat tuna as part of the method, not as a failure. Many players unlock swordfish and expect every catch to be a swordfish. When tuna keeps appearing, they think they are doing something wrong. They are not. Tuna and swordfish share the same cage/harpoon spots, and mixed catches are built into the process. The best mindset is to value the whole inventory. Tuna can be cooked, sold, or dropped depending on your goal.

Another lesson is that location can matter more than the catch itself. A remote fishing spot may look fine, but if banking takes too long, your results drop quickly. This is especially true for players trying to make money. A slightly less glamorous location with a nearby bank can beat a classic location with a long travel route. RuneScape rewards planning, even when the plan is just “stand closer to the bank like a sensible person.”

For casual players, swordfish are excellent because they do not demand intense focus. You can fish while reading, listening to music, or planning your next quest. Just remember to glance back often enough to avoid standing idle. A full inventory does not magically bank itself, although many players have wished very hard that it would.

For players training Cooking, swordfish create a satisfying loop. Fish a few inventories, bank them, then cook them later. Watching your Fishing and Cooking levels rise from the same resource feels efficient and self-sufficient. It is also a nice break from buying everything at the Grand Exchange. There is something charming about catching your own food, even if your character burns a few and acts like that was somehow inevitable.

For money-making, swordfish are best viewed as steady rather than spectacular. They will not make you instantly rich, but they can build a useful cash stack over time, especially for lower-level accounts. Always check whether raw or cooked swordfish are selling better before processing a big batch. Market prices shift, and smart players adjust.

The final lesson is that swordfish fishing is a milestone worth enjoying. RuneScape has faster methods, flashier methods, and more complicated methods, but swordfish represent the classic middle ground: useful, simple, nostalgic, and reliable. If you are standing on a dock with a harpoon and an inventory full of fish, congratulations. You are participating in one of the most timeless RuneScape traditions: turning patience into experience points, one suspiciously large fish at a time.

Conclusion

Catching swordfish in RuneScape is easy once you understand the five core steps: reach level 50 Fishing, bring a harpoon, choose a cage/harpoon fishing spot, start harpooning, and decide whether to bank, cook, sell, or use your catch. The method is beginner-friendly, useful for mid-level players, and still nostalgic for veterans who remember crowded docks and long banking runs.

Swordfish may not be the fastest Fishing method forever, but they are practical and rewarding. They help players train Fishing, support Cooking progress, provide combat food, and create a simple money-making path. Whether you are fishing at Musa Point, relaxing in Catherby, or enjoying the convenience of the Fishing Guild, swordfish remain one of RuneScape’s most memorable catches.

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