Overview
Apprentice and Journeyman Fishing skill ranks are taught by trainers. Expert skill is learnt from a book. Artisan rank requires the angler to complete a quest, "Nat Pagle, Angler Extreme". The Artisan quest requires 4 special fish to be caught and delivered to Nat Pagle:
Nat will then teach Artisan rank, which allows fishing skill to rise above 225.
Nat Pagle
There are two requirements for starting the quest:
- Level 35 or higher.
- 225 personal fishing skill.
Each faction has an introductory pre-quest. These are optional, but will help you find Nat Pagle (by adding a direction marker on the mini-map):
- Alliance: "I Got Nothin' Left!" from Grimnur Stonebrand in Ironforge.
- Horde: "You Too Good" from Lumak in Orgrimmar.
Each quest sends you to visit Nat Pagle (pictured left), in Dustwallow Marsh. Nat is located on his own island, due west of Theramore's piers (map right). ((Coordinates, for those that use them, are 59, 60.)).
Alliance can reach Theramore using the boat from Menethil Harbor. Horde can walk to the area from the Barrens - either by road or south along the coast. The water is full of hostile creatures, but with care these can be avoided.
A younger Nat Pagle can also be found in the Caverns of Time, however the young Pagle will not be able to help you fish (although he does dream about it a lot). You must visit Nat Pagle in Dustwallow Marsh.
Nat's quest, "Nat Pagle, Angler Extreme", requires 4 special fish to be caught, each from a different location. Once you have caught all 4 fish, return to Nat Pagle to receive Artisan training.
Locations and Strategy
The quests are rated at level 45, which means at low level they appear red in the quest log. Don't be deterred: It is possible to complete the Artisan fishing quest on your own at level 35.
The 4 quest fish are described below in detail. They can be caught in any order. Completing the quest will require a lot of travelling, particularly if you haven't already extensively explored Azeroth, and do not yet have access to all the flight points. For those that prefer to be guided, my suggested route is:
- Set Hearthstone in Dustwallow Marsh.
- Stranglethorn Vale (for Savage Coast Blue Sailfin) - north and east from Dustwallow Marsh via Ratchet in The Barrens.
- Swamp of Sorrows (for Misty Reed Mahi Mahi) - north and east from Stranglethorn Vale via Duskwood and Deadwind Pass.
- Hearth back to Dustwallow Marsh.
- Feralas (for Feralas Ahi) - west from Dustwallow Marsh via the Southern Barrens and Thousand Needles.
- Desolace (for Sar'theris Striker) - north from Feralas.
- Hearth back to Dustwallow Marsh and complete the quest.
Some rules to observe while fishing for quest fish:
- Can only be caught with the quest "Nat Pagle, Angler Extreme" on your log.
- Cannot be traded.
- Can only be caught from the named location within the zone:
- Not just anywhere in the zone, but a precise location.
- The bobber must land in water in the named location (when you swim there, the name is displayed above the mini-map). Avoid fishing on the border between named locations - the bobber might not be landing in the correct water.
- Cannot be caught while in a raid group.
- Catch rates vary a lot. Most quest fish are caught within 10 catches, however it can take much longer.
Lures are only required in Feralas, where an effective skill of 300 is required to stop fish getting away. Take some lures (preferably Bright Baubles, +75 lures) to Feralas. Lures are not required at the other locations, where 225 skill is sufficient to fish without get-aways.
Feralas Ahi
Fish: Feralas Ahi.
Location: Verdantis River, Feralas (map left). ((Coordinates approximately 63,51.))
Skill required: 205 to cast, 300 to avoid get-aways.
There are several rivers in Feralas, so ensure you have the correct one. The main road through Feralas crosses the river - you can fish just to the west of the bridge. You can reach the river by taking the road west from Thousand Needles or south-east from Desolace. Alliance approaching from Thousand Needles can avoid the Horde base at Camp Mojache by taking a detour path to the south of the nearby lake.
The Feralas Ahi is the hardest of the four fish: Monsters in the zone are level 40 or above, so level 35s need to be exceptionally careful just walking along the road. If the factions are at war ((PvP realms)) you are almost guaranteed to be attacked (("ganked")) while you fish. You will need to use lures here to prevent most fish getting away.
Misty Reed Mahi Mahi
Fish: Misty Reed Mahi Mahi.
Location: Misty Reed Strand, Swamp of Sorrows (map left).
Skill required: 130 to cast, 225 to avoid get-aways.
The strand covers the coastal area of the Swamp of Sorrows. To reach it, you will need to travel through Deadwind Pass, which links Duskwood to the Swamp of Sorrows, and then walk across the swamp. Stay close to either the northern or southern edges of the swamp, to avoid the Dragonkin near the Temple of Atal'Hakkar. The safest route at low level is to swim north-east up the coast from Booty Bay in Strangelthorn Vale.
To avoid wandering Murlocs, fish from one of the small island rocks just off the coast, rather than on the beach.
Sar'theris Striker
Fish: Sar'theris Striker.
Location: Sar'theris Strand, Desolace (map left).
Skill required: 130 to cast, 225 to avoid get-aways.
The strand covers most of the mainland coast of Desolace, excluding islands and Ethel Rethor, in the centre of the northern part of the coast. Desolace can be reached from the Stonetalon Mountains, however, since you will need to travel through Feralas to fish Feralas Ahi, travelling up from Feralas may be the easiest option.
The easiest place to fish is in the south-west of Desolace, on the coast just south of Shadowprey village.
If you have not already done so, you may wish to search for a Big Iron Fishing Pole while in the area - see equipment chapter for details.
Savage Coast Blue Sailfin
Fish: Savage Coast Blue Sailfin.
Location: The Savage Coast, Stranglethorn Vale (map left).
Skill required: 130 to cast, 225 to avoid get-aways.
The Savage Coast covers much of the northern half of the Vale's western coastline, excluding islands. Note that although the quest simply states "Savage Coast", there are many reports of the fish being caught in the Southern Savage Coast, which covers the remainder of the western coastline, down to just outside Booty Bay.
I suggest you fish just south of Grom'Gol Base Camp, where the river falls into the sea. This is the safest location. However almost any part of the Savage Coast is viable.
Learn More
- Training - How to train your skill from Apprentice, through Journeyman, Expert, and Artisan, to Master.
- 225 Fishing - Petre's guide to the quest.
- Wowhead: Nat Pagle, Angler Extreme - Quest entry.
- Also in the Quests chapter: Daily Fishing.
