How to Fish Speedrun Records & Category Guide
Verified v1.0.11+ Solo times and how each category works.
The How to Fish community now maintains separate speedrun leaderboards for v1.0.4, v1.0.5–v1.0.10 and v1.0.11+. The split matters: Patch 1.0.5 blocked island-skip routes, and Patch 1.0.11 changed self-explosive damage and added hold-to-attack. This page tracks the verified v1.0.11+ Solo board as of September 4, 2026, and explains every category clearly enough to start planning your own run.
Current v1.0.11+ Solo verified records
| Category | Leading verified result | Runner |
|---|---|---|
| Any% | 13:38.200 | WRay211 |
| No Dynamite | 18:10.167 | Kixr |
| Crab% | 1:12.667 | flatixxx |
| 100% | 1:29:45.354 | MrMachineGuy |
| No Gambling | (no verified run yet) | — |
All records above are Solo, v1.0.11+. Source: Speedrun.com API, checked September 4, 2026.
What each category means
Any% — finish the game as fast as the current route allows. No restrictions. The Any% board is the main world-record category and the one most people mean when they say “speedrun.” The v1.0.11+ record of 13:38.200 by WRay211 is the verified reference for the current patch.
No Dynamite — dynamite may not damage any fish or boss. You can still use dynamite in water to retrieve fish or trigger environmental effects, just not as a weapon. The record is 18:10.167 by Kixr. The category exists because dynamite trivialises several early bosses and the community wanted a category that rewards skill over explosive convenience.
Crab% — end the run the moment the Spider Crab is killed, its shell is sold, and the island keys are picked up. This is an opening-speed category, not a full-game completion. The September 4 record is 1:12.667 by flatixxx. Treat it as a routing exercise for the first island rather than a campaign benchmark.
100% — complete the community-defined 100% requirements. The leading verified time is 1:29:45.354 by MrMachineGuy. Do not confuse this with “completing the campaign” or “finishing the Bean achievement.” The specific requirements are set by the Speedrun.com moderation team and change as the board matures.
No Gambling — any use of the roulette table invalidates the run. The Reel of Fortune slot machine is not covered by this rule. The v1.0.11+ Solo board had no verified run at the September 4 check. Do not submit a run from another version or a Duo result to fill the gap — it needs its own category, version and player-count label.
Why version splits exist
The community separates runs into three version groups for practical reasons:
- v1.0.4 captures the launch window before Patch 1.0.5 blocked island travel. Older island-skip routes are still valid here.
- v1.0.5–v1.0.10 covers the period after the island lock was added but before Patch 1.0.11’s hold-to-attack and self-explosive damage changes.
- v1.0.11+ is the current-patch group. Routes here must account for the post-1.0.11 combat changes.
A faster time on v1.0.4 is not evidence that the v1.0.11+ record is wrong. The version split exists precisely because patch changes alter which routes are valid.
Patch 1.0.11 combat changes that affect routing
Patch 1.0.11 deliberately kept self-explosive damage active even when Friendly Fire is disabled. This means TNT thrown near yourself is still lethal. No Dynamite runners need to account for this; Any% runners using TNT need a blast-radius plan.
Patch 1.0.11 also added hold-to-attack and aim/sprint toggles, plus Steam Deck Verified status. None of these affect routing directly, but the Steam Deck build may behave slightly differently at the physics level during edge cases.
Building a first current-patch route
- Start with Any% on v1.0.11+ Solo. Do not copy a v1.0.4 route without checking which steps the island lock removed.
- Write the five-island objective chain. Record the quest item, boss trigger and required hand-in for each stage.
- Pre-plan purchases. Avoid opening shops without a specific weapon, lure or engine target.
- Practice transitions separately. Time boat departure, island landing and quest hand-in rather than only boss fights.
- Save a clean split sheet. Keep one line for each major hand-in and the final completion trigger.
- Add risk only after consistency. A route that resets repeatedly is not automatically faster than a stable current-patch path.
Bean achievement vs competitive speedrunning
The Bean achievement asks whether you can finish within one hour. The speedrun community asks a different question: which version, which player count, and which category rules apply. The categories are separate from in-game achievements. Use the Bean planner as a first milestone if a 15–25 minute route is not yet realistic.
Input overlay requirement
As of August 28, the community board requires an input overlay for top-three Any% runs. That is a current community moderation requirement, not an in-game setting. Confirm the live rule on Speedrun.com before recording a submission.
Sources
- Speedrun.com API — v1.0.11+ Solo leaderboard, checked September 4, 2026
- Steam Community announcements — Patch 1.0.11 official notes
- SteamDB — How to Fish app 4001890 patch records
Related pages
- Bean Achievement Planner — sub-hour clear route
- Updates Hub — Patch 1.0.10 and 1.0.11 notes
- Boss Fights — bait tables and stun windows
- Walkthrough — island order and trophy chain