Fishing 1 to 300

Ranks

Route, recipes and skill levels are from Classic Era. WoW: Forever adds over 600 new recipes, so better options may appear and some numbers may differ.

How fishing works

1. Learn Apprentice Fishing from a fishing trainer, then buy a Fishing Pole and equip it.
2. Face open water and use Fishing. When the bobber splashes, right-click it to catch.
3. In Classic, each zone has a minimum skill. Below it you can't fish there; a bit above it, fish sometimes get away and you get no point.
4. Lures add skill for 10 minutes: Shiny Bauble (+25), Nightcrawlers (+50), Bright Baubles (+75). Use one when a zone is just too hard.

1 to 75: starting zones

1. Fish in any lake or river near your start: AllianceElwynn Forest, Dun Morogh, Teldrassil. HordeDurotar, Mulgore, Tirisfal Glades.
2. You catch Raw Brilliant Smallfish and Raw Longjaw Mud Snapper. Keep them for Cooking.
3. At skill 50, learn Journeyman Fishing (level 10).

75 to 150: capital cities and level 10 to 20 zones

1. AllianceFish in Stormwind (the canals), Ironforge, Westfall, Loch Modan or Darkshore.
2. HordeFish in Orgrimmar, Undercity, The Barrens or Silverpine Forest.
3. You start catching Raw Bristle Whisker Catfish here.

125: Expert Fishing

You need skill 125 to read the book. You can't go past 150 without it.

1. Go to Booty Bay at the south tip of Stranglethorn Vale (both factions).
2. Buy Expert Fishing - The Bass and You from Old Man Heming in the Happy Bobber, on the lowest level near the inn. Read it to learn Expert Fishing (cap 225).
3. Fishing in Booty Bay itself is good while you're there.

150 to 225: level 30 to 45 zones

1. Fish in Stranglethorn Vale, Dustwallow Marsh, Arathi Highlands, Hillsbrad Foothills or Desolace.
2. Use Bright Baubles if fish keep getting away.
3. You catch Raw Mithril Head Trout, Oily Blackmouth and Firefin Snapper (Alchemists buy the last two).

225: Artisan Fishing (Nat Pagle, Angler Extreme)

Needs fishing skill 225. Some spots are hard at 225, so bring lures.

1. Find Nat Pagle on the coast of Dustwallow Marsh, south of Theramore (around 59, 60). He gives you Nat Pagle, Angler Extreme.
2. Catch a Feralas Ahi in the Verdantis River, Feralas.
3. Catch a Sar'theris Striker off the Sar'theris Strand, Desolace (south-west coast).
4. Catch a Savage Coast Blue Sailfin off the Savage Coast, Stranglethorn Vale (north-west coast).
5. Catch a Misty Reed Mahi Mahi at the Misty Reed Strand, Swamp of Sorrows.
6. Hand in to Nat for Artisan Fishing (cap 300) and Nat's Lucky Fishing Pole.

225 to 300: level 45 to 60 zones

1. Fish along the coasts of Feralas, Tanaris or Azshara, or in The Hinterlands and Un'Goro Crater.
2. From about 250, Felwood, Western Plaguelands and Winterspring work too.
3. Look for schools of fish (swirls on the water). Fishing in a school always catches a fish.
4. You catch Raw Spotted Yellowtail, then Raw Nightfin Snapper and Raw Sunscale Salmon. Keep going to 300.

Tips

• Turn on sound effects: the splash is easier to hear than to see.
• Fishing pairs with Cooking: almost every fish you catch levels it. See our Cooking 1 to 300.
• Every Sunday in Classic, the Stranglethorn Fishing Extravaganza is held in Booty Bay. It may differ in WoW: Forever.
• Selling fish or oils? Post them on the ONN Supply board.