Old School Runescape salutes Bosby’s 99 Fishing feat on shrimp and anchovies

An Old School Runescape player known as Bosby has achieved the remarkable milestone of Level 99 Fishing by exclusively catching shrimp and anchovies. This feat took over 4,300 hours across more than two years, drawing significant attention.

The official Old School Runescape X account recently acknowledged Bosby’s unique dedication, celebrating his painstaking effort within the popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). This extraordinary accomplishment, culminating on August 7, 2026, highlights a growing trend of self-imposed challenges in gaming.

Bosby’s extraordinary two-year OSRS fishing journey

Reaching Level 99 in any skill within Old School Runescape typically signifies mastery and demands a significant investment of both time and strategic effort. Players usually aim to upgrade their equipment and target higher-level fish to maximize experience gains more efficiently.

However, Bosby intentionally chose the most arduous path possible. He focused solely on shrimp and anchovies, which are the lowest-level fish in the game and require the most basic tool: a small fishing net.

The numbers behind the dedication

To reach Level 99 Fishing, Bosby needed to accumulate precisely 13,034,431 Fishing experience points. Shrimp grant a mere 10 points each, while anchovies offer 40 points per catch.

Over his 4,304-hour journey, he netted an astounding 275,196 raw shrimp and 257,064 raw anchovies. He also banked every single one of these low-value fish, creating a unique physical testament to his two years and three months of grind.

His average experience per hour hovered around 3,000 points, reflecting the highly “AFK” (Away From Keyboard) nature of his chosen method. This passive style of play allowed him to manage his progress as a “second monitor project,” fitting it around significant life events like starting a new job and getting married.

Official recognition from Jagex

Bosby’s unusual achievement quickly garnered widespread attention across social media platforms. It eventually caught the eye of Jagex Limited, the British video game company that develops and publishes Old School Runescape.

The official Old School Runescape X account publicly celebrated his accomplishment. They even created a special image of a shrimp rendered in the game’s distinctive polygonal art style, verifying his statistics.

This gesture underscores the developer’s recognition of unique player-driven narratives and achievements that emerge from their community. It’s not just about hitting the max level, but often about the journey taken to get there.

The growing trend of OSRS challenge accounts

Bosby’s self-imposed restriction isn’t an isolated incident within the sprawling world of MMORPGs, particularly Old School Runescape. The game has fostered a robust culture of “challenge accounts” and restrictive playstyles.

One prominent example is the official Ironman mode, introduced by Jagex on October 13, 2014. This mode forces players to be entirely self-sufficient, prohibiting trading with others, using the Grand Exchange, or picking up loot from other players.

Evolution of player-driven challenges

The concept behind Ironman mode actually originated from player behaviour in the early 2000s, long before it became an official game feature. Players sought increased difficulty and a deeper engagement with the game’s content by forgoing external assistance.

Today, variations like Hardcore Ironman, where death means a downgrade, and Ultimate Ironman, which forbids banking, push these self-sufficiency limits even further. It demonstrates a desire among a segment of players to experience the game in novel, often more challenging, ways, echoing the relentless pursuit of 99 status in other titles.

The allure of “AFK” gameplay

Bosby described his long fishing endeavor as an “AFK” project, meaning “Away From Keyboard.” This gameplay style involves activities that demand minimal active input from the player, allowing them to engage in other tasks simultaneously.

For many players, AFK activities like fishing or woodcutting offer a meditative backdrop to their daily lives. It allows them to make progress in the game without requiring intense focus, turning monotonous tasks into background achievements.

Bosby explicitly noted that his project was a “fun second monitor project,” illustrating how many players integrate such gaming into their routines. This approach makes colossal time commitments seem more manageable and less like a chore.

Beyond fishing: Bosby’s next AFK aspirations

With his fishing triumph complete, Bosby hasn’t yet committed to his next major AFK endeavor. He has, however, mused about the possibility of reaching Level 99 Smithing by solely using bronze daggers.

If he decides to pursue this, it would represent another painstaking journey through one of Old School Runescape’s most grind-heavy skills. Smithing bronze daggers, like catching shrimp, is an incredibly inefficient method for gaining experience.

Legacy in the OSRS community

Bosby’s story serves as an inspiration to countless Old School Runescape players. It reinforces the idea that dedication, even to the most obscure goals, can be recognized, showcasing the vibrant, player-driven culture that defines the game.

Jagex, founded in 1999 by brothers Andrew and Paul Gower, launched Old School Runescape in 2013 as a re-release of the 2007 version. They’ve consistently supported a community that values both nostalgia and extreme accomplishments.

The game continues to maintain a significant player base, hitting a new all-time record of over 240,000 concurrent players across all platforms in August 2025. This enduring popularity is partly due to the active engagement of its community and the unique stories that emerge, even as the wider gaming world contends with complex competitive ecosystems.

Extreme achievements across the MMORPG landscape

Bosby’s fishing feat, while specific to Old School Runescape, echoes similar tales of immense dedication found throughout the broader MMORPG landscape. Players in games like Final Fantasy XIV and World of Warcraft have also undertaken multi-year quests for ultimate mastery.

For example, some Final Fantasy XIV players have spent over a decade completing every single achievement available in the game. Others have soloed deep dungeons designed for groups, a truly staggering display of individual skill and perseverance.

In World of Warcraft, the “What a Long, Strange Trip It’s Been” achievement requires players to complete all seasonal events over a full year, a testament to long-term commitment. These stories collectively highlight the human drive for challenge within virtual worlds.

This passion for deep immersion and long-term engagement is something developers continually aim to foster in their communities, often reflecting on the anticipation for future RPGs and how to deliver compelling player journeys.