An Old School RuneScape player has reached level 99 in the Fishing skill after spending over two years catching only shrimp and anchovies, an ultra-grind that has now been officially verified and celebrated by the official Old School RuneScape X account. Bosby, playing on an account aptly named OnlyShrimp99, began the challenge on May 11, 2024, and spent a total of 4,304 hours at the fishing spots before hitting the level cap on August 7, 2026, according to community postings and developer statements.
The marathon project required the exclusive use of a small fishing net, the starting gear for the MMO’s coastal harvesting, because the lowest-tier catch cannot be reeled in with any other equipment. Over the course of two years and three months, Bosby reeled in 275,196 raw shrimp and 257,064 raw anchovies. Those figures represent a combined total of 542,260 fish banked in storage to commemorate the journey.
Reaching the level 99 cap in Old School RuneScape requires accruing 13,034,431 Fishing experience points. Because shrimp reward just 10 points each and anchovies grant 40, the path required an immense time investment. Bosby estimated that his experience rate hovered around 3,000 points per hour due to the heavily “AFK” (away-from-keyboard) nature of the method.
From a Friend Group Joke to a Verified Milestone
“This account was a joke idea in my friend group for years before I finally made it,” Bosby wrote in a community update shared on Reddit. “I started out thinking it would just be something funny to do, and ended up having the dedication to see it through.” He noted that across the span of the account, he started a new job, got married, and made friends while parking his character at the Al Kharid fishing spot.
The unusual dedication quickly drew widespread attention across social media platforms like X and Reddit, where community members dubbed the feat “shrimply insane.” The story reached the development team at the official Old School RuneScape X account, prompting an official response from the game’s official social media channels. Quoting a summary of the achievement, the developer posted, “Congrats on the only small net 99 Fishing, Bosby! Our data team has verified your accomplishment,” alongside custom artwork of an in-game shrimp sitting at a computer terminal.
“This artwork is incredible. Thank you!” Bosby replied after seeing the recognition.
What Comes Next for OnlyShrimp99?
While Bosby has successfully reclaimed his screen real estate after finishing the massive multi-year project, players across community forums have already begun speculating about his next moves. Suggestions range from cooking the massive stockpile of over half a million fish to reach level 99 Cooking, to tackling entirely new passive resource grinds. Bosby himself hinted at a potential future project involving bronze daggers to reach level 99 Smithing, though he has not yet confirmed his next official challenge.
Developer recognition for hyper-specific player achievements has become a beloved tradition in major online role-playing games. Comparable nods from studios—such as Larian Studios acknowledging players who pack enemies into boxes in Baldur’s Gate 3—highlight the unique ways developers interact with dedicated community members. For now, Bosby’s record stands as a testament to what patience, a small net, and an absurd amount of free time can accomplish in Gielinor.
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