Fishing

Being a fisherman

What's good about fishing?

It's a relaxing past-time, a break from adventuring, a great source of food, helps get ingredients for cooking/alchemy, and interesting loot (such as chest). This profession is a great for hunters, providing a cheap supply of pet food.

What type or category is Fishing?

Secondary. It does NOT count against your limit of two (2) Primary Professions. Take all three (3) Secondary Professions.
Gathering.

What are the best dressed Fisherman wearing?

Slot	Item	How	Note	Type
Head	Lucky Fishing Hat	Quest	The Ultimate Fishing Hat	Cloth
Head	Crochet Hat	Grey Drop	Wider brim than next	Cloth
Head	Dokebi Hat	Drop	3rd best choice	Leather
Head	Emblazoned Hat	Drop		Leather
Head	Masters Hat of the Whale	Drop	Has whale in the name	Cloth
Chest	Mechbuilder's Overalls	Drop		Cloth
Chest	Blue Overalls	Tailor made		Cloth
Shirt	Captain Sander's Shirt	Quest	Looks like a deckhand's shirt
Shirt	Deckhand's Shirt	Drop
Shirt	White Swashbuckler's Shirt	Tailor made
Shirt	White Linen Shirt	Tailor made
Hands	Fingerless Gloves	Drop		Cloth
Feet	Knitted Sandals	Vendor/Dropped	Looks like flip-flops	Cloth
Feet	Timmy's Galoshes	High level Drop		Mail
Feet	Quagmire Galoshes	Quest		Mail
Feet	Black Ogre Kickers	Drop	Looks a lot like a pair of Birkenstock's	Mail

The act of fishing

How do I fish?

Train in Apprentice Fishing
Buy a fishing pole and equip it.
Stand next to water and cast with you Fishing Icon. (Found in your skill list ("P") and can be dropped on your action bar)

Can I “Autoloot” Fishing?

Yes, if you Shift+Right Click on the bobber, when it "splashes" the item will automatically go into you backpack or bags. No more having to "loot" your pole.

Are there any better poles than the starting pole?

Boost	Item	How
+3	Blump Family Fishing Pole	Quest (Alliance Only)
+5	Strong Fishing Pole	Vendor (Limited Quantities)
+20	Big Iron Fishing Pole	Drop
+25	Nat Pagle's Extreme Angler FC-5000	Quest (Horde Only)
+35	Arcanite Fishing Pole	Quest (Fishing Extravaganza Reward)
+30	Barkskin Fisher	Drop (Barkskin Fisher)

What are the different Bait/Lures?

Boost	Item	How	Duration
+25	Shiny Bauble	Vendor, Quest	10 min
+50	Nightcrawlers	Vendor, Drop	10 min
+75	Bright Baubles	Vendor	10 min
+100	Aquadynamic Fish Attractor	Vendor (Limited), Engineer-Made	5 min

You do not need to use bait or lures, unless you are fishing in high level zones. Some areas have such high required skill levels that you will need to use a lure.

How do you tell how much time is left on your bait/lure?

This has now been incorporated into the default UI.

Where can I get a fishing bot?

Fishing bots are against the rules. Though there are some legal tool that can help.
I use QuickLoot which moves the loot box under your cursor and FishingBuddy which allows Right Click for cast as well as fish data collection.
or you can use FishEase, that only includes the right click cast feature.
You can also change the bobber sound with FishPing.

How does this bonus help with fishing?

This bonus helps you fish in higher level areas and increases the chance that each cast will be successful.

Do any other items give a bonus to fishing?

Boost	Item	How
+2	Glove Enchant	Drop (recipe)
+5	Lucky Fishing Hat	Quest (Rare Fish)
+5	Nat Pagle's Extreme Anglin' Boots	Quest (Rare Fish)
+5	High Test Eternium Fishing Line	Quest (Rare Fish)
+50	Fishing Boat	Recipe (Survival)

I get a message that says my skill isn't high enough to fish.

Certain rivers and lakes are considered higher fishing skills. If you get this message you will have to go back to a lower level zone and catch some fish there first.

Why do I keep getting a message, that I can't attack that?

You are hitting the attack button, instead of the fishing icon. Don't feel to bad, I've done it.

What does the message, "There was nothing on your hook" mean?

This means that you clicked on the bobber at the wrong time.

What does the message, "The fish got away" mean?

This means that clicked on the bobber at the RIGHT TIME, but you don't really have the skill to fish there.
Go back to a lower level zone or use lures to raise your skill level.

What is the minimum skill level for each zone?

This is a project that I need help on. If you have specific date please post it here.

The results of fishing

Does my fishing skill determine what I can catch?

No. Though your skill determines where you are able to fish. See above.

What fish (or fished loot) are used in other professions?

Black Pearl - Blacksmithing Big Black Mace, Ornate Mithril Helm
Deviate Fish - Alchemy Elixir of Giant Growth
Firefin Snapper - Alchemy Fire Oil which is used in several professions
Golden Pearl - Enchanting Runed Arcanite Rod
Iridescent Pearl - Blacksmithing Iridescent Hammer, Shining Silver Breastplate, Enchanting Runed Golden Rod, Leatherworking Gem-studded Leather Belt, Tailoring Phoenix Gloves, Phoenix Pants, Spidersilk Boots
Oily Blackmouth - Alchemy Elixir of Water Breathing, Free Action Potion, Swim Speed Potion
Small Lustrous Pearl - Blacksmithing Green Iron Gauntlets, Pearl-handled Dagger, Leatherworking Moonglow Vest, Tailoring Heavy Woolen Cloak, Pearl-clasped Cloak
Stonescale Eel - Alchemy Stonescale Oil

What are the prices for most auctioned fish?

20 Raw Nightfin Snapper = 23 g
20 Raw Stonescale Eel = 20 g
20 Winter Squid = 18 g
20 Oily Blackmouth = 5 g
20 Deviate Fish = 4 g 40 s
20 Firefin Snapper = 3 g 50 s
20 Raw Sunscale Salmon = 2 g 80 s
20 Raw Summer Bass = 1 g 40 s
20 Raw Glossy Mightfish = 25 s
1 Golden Pearl = 9 g 45 s
1 Black Pearl = 33 s
1 Iridescent Pearl = 15 s
1 Small Lustrous Pearl = 2 s

I have found a fish that I can hold in my off-hand. Is there any purpose beyond humor to holding a fish in my off-hand?

Some special fish, such as a 22-pound catfish, can be held in your off-hand. Place them there to brag about your catch to other people. Hit "Z" to sheath/equip weapons til you are showing off your fish. My hunter looks nice with an axe and fish.

I caught a bloated fish, what up with this?

Some fish can be bloated. Look at it and it should read 'right click to open.' If you right-click on them you can loot them lick a chest or clam.

I found a nice chest, how do I open it?

Rogues that are level 15 and have completed the quest can pick locks. They need to practice to skill up in this, so they should be glad to help you out.
Blacksmiths can make and use skeleton keys, which are used used up when you unlock the chest.
The level of skill or type of key required will be dependent on the type of chest.
If you can find one to do this for you, start a trade and put the item in the do not trade spot.

I heard about some one catching the One Ring, what's up with that?

1 Ring is an actual item that can be caught fishing. It is an ultra rare drop that adds +1 many stats and has the description "Not quite as good as the 2 Ring"

Advancing in fishing

Where are the fishing profession trainers?

Ask a guard! Guards will tell you where to find trainers and other services in most areas. Look for the arrow and flag on your radar. They are easier than most other trainers, in that they are usually near water with a fishing rod.

What are the different levels/ranks in the professions?

Rank	Min - Max Skills	Level Required
Apprentice	1-75	Level 5
Journeyman	50-150	Level 10
Expert	125-225	Level 20 (Book)
Artisan	225-300	Level 40 (Quest)

Why am I not getting any more skill-ups?

You have reached the highest skill points for your Rank. Go train to the next rank.

At what skill level do I no longer get fishing skill ups from this zone?

You can skill to 300 in the newbie zone.

I am ready to train in Expert, who can train me?

You need to buy the Expert Fishing - The Bass and You (Cost 1 gold) from the Old Man Heming in Stranglethorn Vale (Booty Bay) on the bottom level of the dock underneath the Alliance Wingrider vendor. The book cost 1 gold. Heming is inside Booty Bay, on the southern portion of the docks, on a lower level of docks. Just jump in the water, go up the ramp and he is in the building to the right.

What is the quickest way to get to get to Booty Bay at lower levels?

Alliance: Swim south from Westfall till you get to booty bay. Stay away from the shore to avoid getting agro. Once you have bought your book make sure to get the flight path from the griffons at the top of the structure. Now you can either fly home or use your stone.
Horde: Take the boat from Ratchet or by swimming down from Grom'Gol, which connects by zeppelin with Undercity and Orgrimmar.

I am ready to train in Artisan, where is an Artisan Trainer?

You learn Artisan level by completing the following quest.
Once you have reached level 40 and have 225 in Fishing. (I repeat you need to be at least level 40 and have maxed your skill at 225.)
Alliance Start: Starts with Grimnur Stonebrand in Ironforge (The Forlorn Cavern)
Horde Start: Start with Lumak in Orgrimmar (Valley of Honor).
Both send you to speak with Nat Pagle in Dustwallow Marsh (Tidefury Cove, south west of Theramore Island). Approach from NW to avoid higher level mobs. From Theramore Island you can swim directly west from the corner of the dock.
Nat Pagle wants you to four different fish; Feralas Ahi, Savage Coast Blue Sailfin, Sar'theris Striker, & Misty Reed Mahi Mahi.
Feralas Ahi is a rare drop in Feralas (Verdantis River). Bring some lures for this zone.
Savage Coast Blue Sailfin is a rare drop in Stranglethorn Vale (The Savage Coast)
Sar'theris Striker is a rare drop in Desolace (Sar'theris Strand)
Misty Reed Mahi Mahi. is a rare drop in Swamp of Sorrows (Misty Reed Strand)

Fishing Skill Levels

Azeroth

Zone	Skill needed
Blasted Lands	235-265
Burning Steppes	240-290
Duskwood	95-150
Elwynn Forest	1-50
Redridge Mountains	80-120
Stranglethorn Vale	150-250
Swamp of Sorrows	175-225
Westfall	50-80

Khaz Modan

Zone	Skill needed
Badlands	175-225
Dun Morogh	1-50
Loch Modan	50-100
Searing Gorge	none available
Wetlands	105-150

Lordaeron

Zone	Skill needed
Alterac Mountains	150-170
Arathi Highlands	150-180
Eastern Plaguelands	265-280
Hillsbrad Foothills	100-155
Silverpine Forest	50-105
Hinterlands	200-245
Tirisfal Glades	1-50
Western Plaguelands	255-270

Northern Kalimdor

Zone	Skill needed
Ashenvale	75-150
Azshara	200-275
Darkshore	50-80
Desolace	100-175
Durotar	1-50
Felwood	175-250
Moonglade	205-300
Stonetalon Mountains	75-125
Teldrassil	1-50
The Barrens	50-100
Winterspring	250-300

Southern Kalimdor

Zone	Skill needed
Dustwallow Marsh	150-300
Feralas	150-175
Mulgore	1-50
Tanaris	225-275
Thousand Needles	75-125
Un’Goro Crater	225-275

Fish required to skill

I've been thinking about the number of fish caught that it takes to get one point in fishing, and, as we all know, it is related to the level of fishing to are at. However, more specifically, I think it seems to increase about every 25. To determine the number of fish you have to catch to get to the next level and you are above 85 or 90 (where it seems to go from 1 to 2 fish required), do this:

Take your fishing level and subtract 75.
Divide by 25.
Round to the nearest integer.

This are average fish caught per point as follows:

Fishing Skill	Fish per point
1-87	1
88-112	2
113-137	3
138-162	4
163-187	5
188-212	6
213-237	7
238-262	8
263-287	9
287-300	10

Effects of Time on Fishing

There are 4 separate intervals of fishing times. These intervals are 6am-12pm, 12pm-6pm, 6pm-12am, and 12am-6am. During this time the drop rates of certain fish varies, for example, Sunscale Salmon and Nightfin Snapper. According to experimentation, the cycle appears to be the following:

6am-12pm - Nightfin and Sunscale
12pm-6pm - Sunscale only
6pm-12am - Nightfin and Sunscale
12am-6am - Nightfin only

Nightfin Snapper has the highest drop rate from 12am-6am, but is never found between 12pm-6pm. On the other hand, Sunscale Salmon is never found between 12am-6am, but drops quite well from 12pm-6pm.

Fish that are apparently nocturnal or diurnal:

Nocturnal (Night)	Diurnal (Day)
Nightfin Snapper	Sunscale Salmon
[Plated Armorfish]
[Stonescale Eel]

It is known that Winter Squid and Summer Bass appear during their respective seasons. During Autumn and Spring, they can both apparently be caught, although the frequency of each might scale throughout the season.