What is Fishing?
How do I become a Fisherman?
What do I need and how do I fish?
What things can I catch?
What can I do with the things I catch?
How do I improve my fishing skill?
Are there equipment upgrades?
Are there any Mods/UIs that will help me?
Relevance of when you fish
How do I train to higher levels of fishing?
Stranglethorn Fishing Extravaganza
Is there anything else I should know about Fishing?
Bugs/Issues with Fishing
Can I unlearn Fishing?
To recap on the Fishing basics
Further Fishing Reading & Resources
Patch Changes to Fishing
What is Fishing?
As you’d expect this allows a character to hone their hunting skills and enables you to fish for fish and other things lurking in the watery depths. You can consume some items in their raw form or cook (if you’ve trained in cooking) for increased benefits. The food can be used by hunters for their pets and you can even fish out reagents useful to alchemy and chests with goodies hidden inside.

Fishing is a Secondary Gathering Profession and does not count towards your 2 primary profession limit.

How do I become a Fisherman?
You need to locate a Fishing Trainer and have be a character level of 5 to begin your lessons in fishing.

Horde Alliance Neutral

Trainer
Train Apprentice & Journeyman
Lau’Tiki, 14, Darkspear Strand, Durotar

Lumak, 35, Ogrimmar

Katoom the Angler, 42 Revantusk Village, Hinterlands

Kah Mistrunner, 45, Elevation 3, Thunder Bluff

Armand Cromwell, 35, Magic Quarter, Undercity
Astaia, 35, The Temple Gardens, Darnassus

Matthew Hooper, 10, Lakeshire, Redridge Mountains

Arnold Leland, 35, Trade District, Stormwind

Harold Riggs, Menthil Harbor, Wetlands

Traders
Train you to Expert Old Man Heming, 43, (Expert Book @ 1g), Booty Bay, Stranglethorn
Master
Trians you to Artisan Lumak, 35, (Artisan Quest) Valley of Honor, Orgrimmar, Durotar Grimnur Stonebrand, 35, (Artisan Quest) Forlorn Cavern, Ironforge
Suppliers
Sells you stoof Mai’Lahii, 30, Shadowprey Village, Desolace

Zansoa, 14, Sen’Jin Village, Durotar

Katoom the Angler, 42 Revantusk Village, Hinterlands

Harn Longcast, 9, Bloodhoof Village, Mulgore

Shankys, 30, Valley of Honor, Orgrimmar

Sewa Mistrunner, 40, Elevation 3, Thunder Bluff

Martine Tramblay, 15, SE of Brill on road to Plaguelands, Tirisfal Glades

Lizbeth Cromwell, 30, Magic Quarter, Undercity
Voloren, 30, Temple Gardens, Darnassus

Savanne, 49, Reathermoon Stronghold, Feralas

Tansy Puddlefizz, 30, Forlorn Cavern, Ironforge

Khara Deepwater, 15, Thelsamar, Loch Modan

Catherine Leland, 30, Trade District, Stormwind

Nessa Shadowsong, 25, Rut’theran Village, Teldrassil

You can train to four ranks of proficiency and each has certain prerequisites that you need to meet before you are able to progress to the next rank of proficiency.

To Train to rank of: Cost Required Cook items from/to
skill level
Char Lvl Prof Skill Lvl
Apprentice 1s 5 - 1 - 75
Journeyman 5s 10 50 50 - 150
Expert 1g 20 125 125 - 225
Purchase book as detailed below
Artisan Free 35 225 225 - 300
Quest as detailed below

Training costs are reduced by 10% in cities you have an ‘Honored’ Reputation.
What do I need and how do I fish?
After you have learnt fishing you will need to buy a fishing pole from a Supplier. To fish you will need to equip it, just like a weapon and be by water. Your weapon will need to be put in your inventory. You’d be as well to drag the fishing skill icon from you skills book (Press P to open) down to your action bar so you can access it more easily.

To cast, you left click on the fishing icon or right click in the water. A fishing bobber with a couple of feathers ontop will be cast at some random location within the water you are standing near. A small timer gauge sits at the bottom of the screen, just as it does when you’re casting some spells and this is how long that cast will last for. Hold you cursor over the bobber and wait. When you see a splash around the bobber right click on it and the catch will either get away or you will be successful and a loot box will pop up showing what you have caught. If you hold the Shift key down while you are cast and you land a fish it’ll auotmatically go to your bags. If you are a significantly higher level in Fishing than required for the location you’re in you will have longer to click the bobber. It’s when the gap between your level and the area fishing level are closer that you have to be really quick clicking the bobber to land a catch.

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There’s not much else you can do while fishing. You can’t chat because you need to be ready to click the bobber when it splashes which of course you can’t do if you’re typing a message to someone. All you can do is watch the world go by so pick a reasonably populated area so you can atleast people watch, or listen to some music.

You do need a lot of patience for this trade and so it doesn’t feel like too much of a chore set yourself fishing durations that last as long as your bait does (about bait). If you play for a few hours at a time aim to have one or two 10 minute sessions. It’ll soon level up and you won’t feel as if you’re grinding it.

What things can I catch?
Fish mostly which you can cook to add benefits or feed to some of the Hunter’s pets. There are some not so straight forward fish however, such as Catfish which you can equip as a weapon. Smelly yet stylish. There are also Bloated Fish which when right clicked could contain a goody. You can fish out Clams which can contain pearls and chests can contain other items such as gems, blasting powder and copper bolts to name but three. Some of these will be locked so will require either a rogue (to pick) or a blacksmith (to make keys). Messages in a bottle have a chance of having a recipe, pattern or scroll in them.

Below is a table showing the percentage breakdown of what’s caught out of 50 catches in each area. This is just a sample to show a breakdown, there are many more different types of fish and of course many more locations to fish from.

Kalimdor
Area Catch %
Astranaar, Ashenvale Bristle Whisker Catfish
Longjaw Mud Snapper
Healing Potion 78
20
2
Nightsong Woods (Felfire Hill), Ashenvale Bristle Whisker Catfish
Longjaw Mud Snapper 66
34
Mystral Lake, Ashenvale Bristle Whisker Catfish
Longjaw Mud Snapper
19 Pound Catfish 64
34
2
Zoram’gar Outpost, Ashenvale Rainbow Fin Albacore
Oily Blackmouth
Firefin Snapper 70
16
14
Southfury River, Aszhara Redgill
Mithril Head Trout
Bristle Whisker Catfish
Nightfin Snapper
Oily Blackmouth
Longjaw Mud Snapper
38
16
14
14
14
4
Lushwater Oasis, Barrens Longjaw Mud Snapper
Deviate Fish
Bristle Whisker Catfish
Brilliant Smallfish
Deviate Scale 36
30
20
12
2
Orgrimmar (Valley of Honor), Barrens Longjaw Mud Snapper
Bristle Whisker Catfish
Brilliant Smallfish 64
24
12
Ratchet, Barrens Rainbow Fin Albacore
Slitherskin Mackerel
Oily Blackmouth 54
30
16
Stonebull Lake, Mulgore Longjaw Mud Snapper
Brilliant Smallfish 56
44
Thunder Bluff, Mulgore Longjaw Mud Snapper
Bristle Whisker Catfish
Brilliant Smallfish
Lesser Mana Potion
Lesser Healing Potion
19 Pound Catfish 62
22
10
2
2
2
Steamwheedle Post, Tanaris Spotted Yellowtail
Glossy Mightfish
Stonescale Eel
Rockscale Cod
Firefin Snapper
Heavy Crate (solid blasting powder) 44
18
16
12
8
2
Darkcloud Pinnacle, Thousand Needles Mithril Head Trout
Bristle Whisker Catfish
Greater Healing Potion 70
28
2

Shimmering Flats (Tahonda Ruins), Thousand Needles Mithril Head Trout
Bristle Whisker Catfish 64
36

Eastern Kingdom
Area Catch %
Eastern Strand, Hillsbrad Rainbow Fin Albacore
Oily Blackmouth
Firefin Snapper 76
16
8
Tarren Mill (pond at south), Hillsbrad Bristle Whisker Catfish
Longjaw Mud Snapper 68
32
Booty Bay, Stranglethorn Rockscale Cod
Spotted Yellowtail
Firefin Snapper
Oily Blackmouth
62
18
12
8

Undercity (Trade Quarter) Tirisfal Glades Longjaw Mud Snapper
Sickly Looking Fish
Brilliant Smallfish
Bristle Whisker Catfish
Old Skull 36
20
18
16
10
Menethil Bay, Wetlands Rainbow Fin Albacore
Oily Blackmouth
Firefin Snapper 56
30
14

What can I do with the things I catch?
Well, lots of things you can consume immediately but you are much better off cooking the fish first for greater benefits. As an example, Raw Bristle Whisker Catfish gives 243.6 health over 21 sec, whereas when it’s cooked it does 552 health over 24 seconds. So train as a cook. Cooking is a secondary profession and therefore does not count towards your 2 primary profession limit. If you can’t be bothered with cooking you can just eat it raw or sell it on to a vendor. You’ll not get much money for them though (even cooked), a few copper. Fishing isn’t a route to riches that’s for sure.

However, there is potential to make some money from fishing, with items you catch that are used in other professions.

Profession Use
Deviate Fish
Elixir of Giant Growth (Alchemy) and Savory Deviate Delight (Cookery) which has ramdon effects. Can turn you into a human pirate or ninja for 1 hour or as green ooze for about 15 seconds. You can also be affected by a random Buff such as Cowardice which will fear you for 10 seconds (makes you run around) or Faster Casting which will increase you casting by 10% for 2 minutes. You can also gain Feign Death like the Hunter has, fall down to the ground for 2 minutes faking death. Huge fan factor and therefore potential to make you lots of money. If you train in cooking and make the delight yourself you can also sell to non-cooks.

Firefin Snapper
To make Fire Oil which is used in Alchemy (Elixir of Firepower & Fire Protection Potion) and Enchanting (Lesser Fire Resistance) and Tailoring (Crimson Silk Cloak, Crimson Silk Shoulders & Crimson Silk Gloves).

Stonescale Eel Stonescale Oil (Alchemy).
Oily Blackmouth To make Blackmouth Oil which is used in Alchemy (Elixir of Water Breathing, Free Action Potion & Swim Speed Potion). Enchanting (Enchant Gloves: Fishing)

Small Lustrous Pearl
Pearl-handled Dagger, Green Iron Gauntlets (Blacksmithing). Moonglow Vest & Barbaric Bracers) (Leatherworking). Pearl-clasped Cloak & Heavy Woolen Cloak (Tailoring).
Iridescent Pearl
Iridescent Hammer & Shining Silver Breastplate (Blacksmithing). Runed Golden Rod (Enchanting). Gem-studded Leather Belt (Leatherworking). Phoenix Gloves, Phoenix Pants, Spidersilk Boots (Tailoring).
Black Pearl
Big Black Mace, Ornate Mithril Helm & Truesilver Breastplate (Blacksmithing). Runed Truesilver Rod (Enchanting). Shadowskin Gloves, Feathered Breastplate & Runic Leather Bracers (Leatherworking). Mooncloth Boots (Tailoring).
Golden Pearl

Runed Arcanite Rod & Enchant Weapon : Spell Power (Enchanting). Argent Boots, Gloves of Spell Mastery, Mooncloth Gloves, Mooncloth Robe & Truefaith Vestments (Tailoring)
Clams can contain pearls and chests can contain other items such as gems, blasting powder and copper bolts to name but three. Some of these will be locked so will require either a rogue (to pick) or a blacksmith (to make keys). Messages in a bottle have a chance of having a recipe, pattern or scroll in them.
Source: WWNData

How do I improve my Fishing skill level?
It’s popular belief that if you divide your fishing skill by 5 you should be fishing in an area where mobs are round about that level. So if you have a fishing skill of 100, that would mean you would be best suited to fishing in an area populated by level 20ish mobs. As your fishing skill level increases you will be able to fish successfully in higher level areas. If you try to cast your line into water in an area too high for you you will get a message to say “you’re not sufficiently skilled enough to fish” there. If you are able to cast your line into an area somewhat higher than your skill level you are less likely to catch anything and will receive the ‘your fish got away’ messages more often.

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Your fishing skill level does not determine what you can catch in any area, it determines if you will catch. Each area has certain fish and items that can be fished in that area. That list of items isn’t affected by your fishing skill level, it’s the same for every fisherman. However, the level of your fishing skill determines whether you can catch any of it. Higher skill means more chance of catching something from that list, lower level skill means less chance and much lower skill level means you’ll get the above message.

If your fishing skill is no longer increasing in level when you catch something check that you have not reached the the max level cap for your rank. If you’ve reached the cap seek a trainer and train to the next rank.

Apprentice - Up to fishing skill Level 75
Journeyman - Up to fishing skill Level 150
Expert - Up to fishing skill level 225
Artisan - Up to fishing skill level 300
Once you reach 300 your skill will not increase by fishing although it can be raised by equipment and bait.

Are there equipment upgrades?
Yes. You can upgrade to a better pole, buy bait to apply to your rod and even have a pair of gloves imbued with a fishing bonus by an Enchanter.

Bait will temporarily increase your fishing skill which means you can fish in levels that are higher than your base fishing skill level and you’ll stand more chance of landing a catch.

Fishing Item Bonus to
Fishing Min Char Min Fish Skill Details
Enchanted Gloves +2 - - Enchanter trade skill required.
Blump Family Fishing Pole +3 1 1 Alliance quest “The family and the fishing pole”
Strong Fishing Pole + 5 5 10 9 silver
Lucky Fishing Hat +5 - 1 Prize for coming first in the Stranglethorn Fishing Extravaganza.
Darkwood Fishing Pole +15 15 50 28-43 Dmg. Speed 3.00.
Big Iron Fishing Pole +20 25 100 Drysnap Crawlers
Nat Pagle’s Extreme Angler FC-5000 +25 ? 100 Horde quest. “Snapjaws, Mon! ”
Shiny Bauble (bait) +25 - - 50 copper. Apply to pole & lasts 10 mins.
Arcanite Fishing Pole +35 - 300 First prize for coming first in the Stranglethorn Fishing Extravaganza.
Nightcrawlers (bait) +50 - 50 1 silver. Apply to pole & lasts 10 mins
Bright Baubles (bait) +75 - 100 2.5 silver. Apply to pole & lasts 10 mins.
Flesh Eating Worm (bait) +75 - 100 Apply to pole & lasts 10 mins.
Aquadynamic Fish Attractor (bait) +100 - 100 2.5 silver. Apply to pole & lasts 5 mins

You should note that the timer on your bait will continue to count down even if you unequip the fishing pole and put it in your bag. Hover over your bait icon next to the minimap to see how long you have left on your bait.

Are there any Mods/UIs that will help me fish?
Bots that fish for you are illegal and use of them could result in your account being banned by Blizzard. However, a mod that is not illegal is Fishing Buddy. Features include:

‘Fish Watcher’ lets you see the fish you’ve caught here before (or the fish that you’ve caught in the current session)
Display your current skill level and the time since you started fishing
Choose your fishing outfit and change into it easily
Simplified casting support (right click to cast, fast recast)
Support for automatically adding a lure to your fishing pole
Preliminary support for tracking ‘cycle fish’ such as the Nightfin Snapper so you know when to go looking for them.
Relevance of when you fish
There are two seasonal fish that we know of Summer Bass and Winter Squid and when cooked both have bonuses to their health benefits. Summer Bass only caught in the summer months can be cooked into Hot Smoked Bass and gives a +10 boost to spirit for 10 minutes whereas the Winter Squid can be cooked into Grilled Squid gives +10 to Agility for 10 minutes so particularly handy for Rogues. The time of day can also affect what you fish, for example, in an area you would fish Nightfin Snapper at night time, you will catch Sunscale Salmon in its place during the day you will catch.

How do I train to higher levels of fishing?
Expert - Via a Book

As with the other two secondary skills higher levels are not achieved through regular training. To become Expert you’ll need to purchase a book for 1 gold from Old Man Herring in Booty Bay. Follow the pier around to the right, don’t go up the ramp, carry on, then go down the next ramp and Old Man Herring’s ‘The Happy Bobber’ shop is right in front of you. Simple as that.

Artisan - Via a Quest

To achieve Artisan fishing rank you will need to complete a quest. Remember, you must be a character level of 35 and posses a fishing skill of 225 or above (without bonuses) before you can begin either of these quests below.

Horde
Seek out Lumak, in the Valley of Honor in Orgrimmar. He will issue you with the quest “You Too Good” which sends you off to see Nat Pagle in Dustwallow Marsh.

Alliance
Seek out Grimnur Stonebrand, in the Forlorn Cavern of Ironforge. He will issue you with the quest “I got nothin’ left” which sends you off to see Nat Pagle in Dustwallow Marsh.

Both
From here on it’s the same for characters from both Factions. Nat Pagle will issue you with the quest “Nat Pagle’s Angler Extreme” that calls for you to fish for 1 each of the following fish in the locations listed. The co-ordinates listed are the exact co-ordinates that I caught my fish. Take Aquadynamic Fish Attractors with you to ensure you have the highest possible skill in fishing.

I had a level 225 fishing skill and used no bait. The first and last fish I caught on my first cast and the middle two after about six casts.

Feralas Ahi Verdantis River, Feralas (62,52)
Sar’theris Striker Sar’theris immediately south of Shadowprey Village (25,78)
Savage Coast Blue Sailfin Savage Coast, just outside Grom’ Gol Base Camp (29,23)
Misty Reed Mahi Mahi Misty Reed Strand, Swamp of Sorrows (90,73)

You need the quest in order to catch any of these fish. They will not spawn for you without the quest.

Stranglethorn Fishing Extravaganza
The Stranglethorn Fishing Extravaganza. is a grand event set along the coasts of Stranglethorn Vale. Every Sunday (between 2-4pm server time) friendly neighborhood goblins will visit Ironforge and Orgrimmar to inform aspiring anglers of the grand tournament and give instructions. At the appropriate time, the shout will ring out across Stranglethorn to bait your hooks and cast your lines! Check out the Event’s Guide for full details of the event.

Is there anything else I should know about Fishing?
Doing other things - You can not sit while fishing. You can not be swimming or rather treading water either and you can not be in stealth. You can access your various inventory screens, it won’t interrupt your cast. But if you are fiddling around with those you need to keep your ears alert for the splash sound so you can click on the bobber to land your catch. If attacked you will be interrupted.

Auto Loot - If you have your shift key pressed when you right click the bobber to catch a fish your catch will be automatically moved to your bag.

Off-hand fish - These have no use other than allowing you some bragging rights when you’re next loitering around town.

Rest Bonus & Fishing - Try to level up your fishing while in cities, this way you’ll also receive rest bonus.

Bugs & Issues with Fishing
None are known. However, if you have come across any that would help other fisherman please let us know and we will add it here.

Can I unlearn Fishing?
No, it’s a secondary skills and as you can have all three (cooking, first aid, fishing) there is no need to have an unlearn feature.

To recap on basics of Fishing
Training in fishing costs money
Recipes cost money (some drops/rewards)
Need to be character level 5 to begin training
Must stand while fishing
Fishing poles need to be equipped in your primary weapon hand
Can’t unlearn
Hold shift key down while right clicking bobber will move loot to bag
Higher fishing skill allows you to fish in higher level areas. It doesn’t affect what’s available to catch there, that is the same for everyone regardless of level. Fishing level determins if you can catch, not what you can catch.
Further Fishing Reading & Resources
Fishing Level Zone List
Fishing Quests
List of Fishing Trainers
List of Fishing Suppliers
Professions Forum
Profession UIs/Mods
WWN Data

Patch changes to Fishing
Patch 1.9.0 (3 January 2006)
Schools of fish have appeared around the world that can be fished from a few times before being fished out. These schools tend to contain valuable fish types such as Oily Blackmouth or Firefin Snapper. In some places, wreckage can be fished from for even better rewards.
Patch 1.8.0 (11 October 2005)
The minimum level for the Artisan Fishing quest lines has been lowered to 35.
Patch 1.3.0 (22 March 2005)
You will now catch ocean fish when fishing from Rut’theran village.
Patch 1.2.0 - 17 December 2004
Fishing for high-level zones has been restored.
Monetary value of fished items sold to vendors has been significantly reduced.
Fishing profession now requires a minimum character level, like the other professions do. Any character who already has a fishing profession past the intended level will not be affected.
Expert First Aid books moved to a more appropriate vendor for the Horde. New vendor is still within the same general area as the previous one.
Patch 1.1.0 - 7 November 2004
Expert and above skill tiers for secondary skills are no longer available on trainers, you need to find the books to teach you them. Expert level is on a vendor somewhere in the world, artisan level requires a quest to be completed.
Beta Patch 0.11.0 - 28 September 2004
Fishing bobbers don’t hang around after you catch fish.
All zones now have fishing, with artisan fishing added to support the new zones. Some of the zones are going to be pretty hard to fish and will require bait and a good fishing pole. Note that some fish can only be caught at certain times of day.

Beta Patch 0.10.0 - 19 September 2004
Several old trade skills are being turned into secondary skills. These do not count toward your two-profession limit, so players can learn all three secondary skills, in addition to their two professions, without restriction. The survival skill is being removed and campfires have been folded into the cooking profession. The secondary skills are: cooking, fishing, and first aid.
Beta Patch 0.8.0 - 7 July 2004
Fishing: The skill-up rate for fishing has been increased.