IdleMMO Fishing Leveling Guide
The fastest Fishing route from level 1 to 100 takes about 4,152 hours of action time and 353,054 actions, with no boosts. At each level the route uses whatever you can catch for the most XP per hour, and switches the moment something better unlocks.
Updated
In this guide
How long each milestone takes
| Reach level | 10 | 25 | 50 | 70 | 90 | 100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hours from level 1 | 1.2 h | 5.2 h | 49 h | 302 h | 1,867 h | 4,152 h |
Level 50 takes 49 h. Level 100 takes 4,152 h, so about 99% of the time to max is spent above level 50. The XP table shows why: the per-level cost keeps climbing all the way to 100.
Fastest route: what to catch at each level
| Levels | Catch | XP/hr | XP needed | Actions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | Cod | 1,029 | 292 | 146 | 17 min |
| 3 to 5 | Salmon | 1,440 | 353 | 89 | 15 min |
| 5 to 8 | Tuna | 1,800 | 670 | 112 | 22 min |
| 8 to 11 | Trout | 2,057 | 885 | 111 | 26 min |
| 11 to 15 | Perch | 2,250 | 1,639 | 164 | 44 min |
| 15 to 25 | Herring | 2,600 | 8,124 | 625 | 3.1 h |
| 25 to 30 | Sardines | 2,743 | 7,982 | 499 | 2.9 h |
| 30 to 40 | Lobster | 2,850 | 33,204 | 1,748 | 12 h |
| 40 to 50 | Crab | 2,933 | 85,291 | 3,877 | 29 h |
| 50 to 60 | Turtle | 3,038 | 219,910 | 8,145 | 72 h |
| 60 to 80 | Stingray | 3,150 | 2,046,577 | 58,474 | 650 h |
| 80 to 90 | Lantern Fish | 3,512 | 3,848,834 | 96,221 | 1,096 h |
| 90 to 100 | Great White Shark | 4,400 | 10,056,365 | 182,843 | 2,286 h |
Levels read "from, to": the row ends when the next option unlocks. Time is pure action time at base speed. Membership, class and tool efficiency shorten it; the Fishing calculator has boost toggles and a level planner for your exact starting point.
Leveling while making gold
This route picks the best gold-per-hour option at each level instead, counting only items whose daily market sales can absorb at least an hour of your output. Going 1 to 100 takes about 5,376 hours, against 4,152 for the same levels on the fastest route.
| Levels | Catch | Gold/hr | XP/hr | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 8 | Cod | 3,086 | 1,029 | 1.3 h |
| 8 to 30 | Trout | 3,857 | 2,057 | 9.1 h |
| 30 to 50 | Lobster | 3,900 | 2,850 | 42 h |
| 50 to 100 | Turtle | 4,275 | 3,038 | 5,324 h |
Gold per hour is net of inputs at today's prices and moves with the market. The money-making rankings compare every skill side by side.
Side benefit: Dexterity XP
Every Fishing action also grants Dexterity XP. The per-action amount for each option is on the Fishing calculator.
Other leveling guides:
Woodcutting
Mining
Smelting
Forge
Cooking
Alchemy
Construction
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to level Fishing in IdleMMO?
Always catch the highest XP-per-hour option you have unlocked: start on Cod, and finish on Great White Shark from level 90. The full route from 1 to 100 takes about 4,152 hours of action time with no boosts.
How long does it take to get Fishing to 100?
About 4,152 hours on the fastest route. Level 50 comes at roughly 49 hours, so the second half is the bulk of the grind.
Can I make money while leveling Fishing?
Yes. The profit route below picks the best gold per hour instead of XP. Going to 100 it takes about 5,376 hours versus 4,152 on the fastest route, and it only uses items with enough daily market sales to absorb your output.
Sources: action times, XP and recipes from the same cached skill data as the calculators; prices from the IdleMMO player market; XP per level from the community-sourced table on the XP table page (the official wiki publishes none).