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Activity Parameters (As Evaluated for Skill and Level)
Skills
Fishing(1)
Fishing(10)
Fishing(20)
Fishing(30)
Fishing(40)
Fishing(50)
Fishing(60)
Fishing(70)
Fishing(80)
Fishing(85)
Fishing(90)
Fishing(95)
Quests
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
Equipment
Crayfish cage
Crayfish cage
Crayfish cage
Crayfish cage
Crayfish cage
Crayfish cage
Crayfish cage
Crayfish cage
Crayfish cage
Crayfish cage
Crayfish cage
Crayfish cage
Other
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
Input and Output Items and Values
Total Input Value
0 gp
0 gp
0 gp
0 gp
0 gp
0 gp
0 gp
0 gp
0 gp
0 gp
0 gp
0 gp
Input Items and Item Values
Total Output Value
1,520 gp
1,568 gp
1,615 gp
1,663 gp
1,710 gp
1,710 gp
1,758 gp
1,805 gp
1,805 gp
1,805 gp
1,805 gp
1,805 gp
Output Items and Item Values
Feather[80]
1,520
Feather[82.5]
1,567
Feather[85]
1,615
Feather[87.5]
1,662
Feather[90]
1,710
Feather[90]
1,710
Feather[92.5]
1,757
Feather[95]
1,805
Feather[95]
1,805
Feather[95]
1,805
Feather[95]
1,805
Feather[95]
1,805
Fishing XP
Fishing XP Total
5,200
5,350
5,500
5,650
5,850
5,850
6,050
6,250
6,250
6,250
6,250
6,250
Fishing XP by Item
Raw crayfish[520]
5,200
Raw crayfish[535]
5,350
Raw crayfish[550]
5,500
Raw crayfish[565]
5,650
Raw crayfish[585]
5,850
Raw crayfish[585]
5,850
Raw crayfish[605]
6,050
Raw crayfish[625]
6,250
Raw crayfish[625]
6,250
Raw crayfish[625]
6,250
Raw crayfish[625]
6,250
Raw crayfish[625]
6,250
Skill Activity Ratings (Primary Skill)
Skill Activity Speed (SAS, XP/hr)
5,200
5,350
5,500
5,650
5,850
5,850
6,050
6,250
6,250
6,250
6,250
6,250
Skill Activity Profitability (SAP, gp/hr)
1,520
1,568
1,615
1,663
1,710
1,710
1,758
1,805
1,805
1,805
1,805
1,805
Skill Activity Efficiency for 100k gp/hr Opp. Cost (SAE100k)
-18.94
-18.40
-17.89
-17.40
-16.80
-16.80
-16.24
-15.71
-15.71
-15.71
-15.71
-15.71
Skill Activity Efficiency for 250k gp/hr Opp. Cost (SAE250k)
-47.78
-46.44
-45.16
-43.95
-42.44
-42.44
-41.03
-39.71
-39.71
-39.71
-39.71
-39.71
Skill Activity Efficiency for 500k gp/hr Opp. Cost (SAE500k)
-95.86
-93.16
-90.62
-88.20
-85.18
-85.18
-82.35
-79.71
-79.71
-79.71
-79.71
-79.71
Skill Activity Efficiency for 1M gp/hr Opp. Cost (SAE1M)
-192.02
-186.62
-181.52
-176.70
-170.65
-170.65
-165.00
-159.71
-159.71
-159.71
-159.71
-159.71
Analysis, Discussion and Tips for Success
General Discussion
Crayfish are the new beginner-level "fish" added to the game by Jagex along with the Lumbridge Achievement Diary in 2008. They are an important fish for lower-level players because they can be caught very quickly -- much faster than shrimp and several other low-level fish. It's obvious that Jagex intended these to be a training boost for lower-level players; they have a very low spread in catch speed between very high and very low levels, with level 95 players able to get them only about 30% faster than level 1 players! (Of course, high levels normally wouldn't bother with these, but still, it's interesting...)
The only drawback with these is that they aren't very close to a bank. The best way to take advantage of them is to catch them in Lumbridge and then sell them to Hank in the fishing shop nearby. Then you can use the coins to buy feathers, which lets you earn a bit more money (if you sell them) or prepare to fly fish at higher levels.
If you want to cross-train, you can of course chop down a tree, make a fire, and cook the crayfish, then drop it.
Location and Access
The best spot for these is at the small lake just northwest of the fishing shop in Lumbridge.
Required and Recommended Equipment
You need a crayfish cage, which you can get for free from Hank in the fishing shop.
Required and Recommended Supplies
No supplies needed.
Familiar Suggestions
You want to minimize banking, so I recommend skipping the lower-level familiars. At higher levels, do use the ibis and granite lobster. They have valuable foraging items (swordfish and sharks), they help you fish a bit faster, they give XP and they last for a while. I've assumed here that you do save and bank their foragings (since it would be a real waste not to!)
Technique and Tips
Start out with a crayfish cage from Hank. Run northwest to the lake and fish until your inventory is full. Then run back to Hank and sell the crayfish to him; you'll get a few coins for the first one or two crayfish, but only 1 gp each thereafter. Use that money to buy feathers, and drop any leftover coins. Repeat.
All information based on Grand Exchange price data from: May 20, 2012. Note that the three-day delay in price updates is waived for RuneScoop members.
All information based on Grand Exchange price data from: May 20, 2012. Note that the three-day delay in price updates is waived for RuneScoop members. 
