"Mastering Rune Slayer Fishing: A Beginner's Guide"

If you ever wondered whether Rune Slayer qualifies as a true MMORPG, here's the definitive answer: it has fishing. And as any seasoned gamer knows, if a game includes a fishing mechanic, it’s officially part of the MMORPG club. Jokes aside, you're here to learn how fishing works in Rune Slayer, and we’ve got you covered. Sure, it took us a while to figure it out too, but now we’re sharing the full breakdown so you can start reeling in your aquatic loot. Spoiler: it’s not nearly as straightforward as Fisch.

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Before you start fishing in Rune Slayer, there’s one essential step you shouldn’t skip.

Screenshot by The Escapist

You’ll want to accept the fishing quest from Simon the Fisherman, the white-haired NPC standing by the pier where the Baracuda swims. He’ll ask you to catch 5 “fish”—note the quotes, we’ll explain why in a moment. Complete it, and he’ll reward you with a Tackle Box, a handy item that streamlines your fishing experience later on.

Here’s the catch: you’ll need a fishing rod and bait to get started, and who better to supply you than Simon himself?

Screenshot by The Escapist

Head over and purchase a Wood Fishing Rod and a stack of Worms from Simon. While most players suggest carrying at least 5 Worms, we recommend grabbing 10 just to be safe. And no, you can’t equip the bait—the Worms simply need to be in your inventory. Even though they’re not equipped, the game automatically consumes one Worm each time you attempt to fish.

Here’s the tricky part: you won’t be able to catch anything unless you have at least 5 Worms in your inventory. We tested this—we tried with just one and caught nothing. The moment we had five or more, fish (and junk) started biting. To keep track, place the Worms in your hotbar for easy monitoring.

Once you’ve got your gear and bait, you’re ready to fish.

How to Catch Fish in Rune Slayer

Gif by The Escapist

1. Select your Wood Fishing Rod from your inventory or hotbar. You can’t equip it like a weapon, but your character will hold it properly when selected.
2. Hold M1 to cast your line, making sure it lands in the water. The pier near Simon works perfectly.
3. Watch the bobber closely. When you see it create one or two ripples, press M1 again to reel in your catch.

That’s the entire process—simple in theory, but not always successful. You won’t catch something every time. Often, the line comes back empty. Other times, you’ll pull up junk like Old Cups. But here’s the good news: Simon counts junk as valid “fish” for his quest. That’s why the quest says “fish” in quotes—it accepts any catch, edible or not.

We only landed two actual fish; the rest were trash. But five total catches were all we needed.

Screenshot by The Escapist

Once you’ve gathered five items—fish or otherwise—return to Simon the Fisherman to complete the quest. He’ll hand over a Tackle Box. Use it to store your remaining Worms and other fishing supplies. From now on, you won’t have to clutter your inventory with individual bait stacks—everything stays neatly packed away.

And that’s everything you need to know about fishing in Rune Slayer. It’s quirky, a bit unintuitive, but ultimately rewarding. Now grab your rod and get fishing! For more tips and tricks, check out our [Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Rune Slayer].