Introduction
Cataclysm is the 3rd expansion to the World of Warcraft. Unlike The Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King (which added new continents), Cataclysm changes many of the original parts of Old Azeroth.
During 2009 BlizzCon, we learned that a new method of fishing might be developed, perhaps similar to Animal Crossing (that makes individual fish visible in the water). No changes have occurred to fishing "mechanic" in Cataclysm.
The official pre-test preview suggested Cataclysm fishing would be similar to WotLK, but no details were given:
"Lots of new fish and other fun items to catch! Fish are still used to make premium food. New fishing dailies."
Zones
The Cataclysm has changed most zones in Old Azeroth (Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor). Several new zones have been explored for the first time. The Cataclysm has not affected Outland or Northrend. For details of changes to catches in Old Azeroth, read Cataclysm Old Azeroth Changes »
Fish can currently be caught from open water in the new zones in the table below. The Lost Isles can only be fished by young Goblins.
| No-Junk Skill | Zones and Areas |
|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Hyjal (Throne of Flame) and Twilight Highlands (Cannon's Inferno) |
| 25 | The Lost Isles |
| 50 | Gilneas (Worgen) |
| 550 | Deepholm |
| 575 | Mount Hyjal (General) and Vashj'ir |
| 650 | Twilight Highlands (General) and Uldum |
| 675 | Tol Barad |
Interface
Your professions are now all displayed on a separate "Professions" tab in your Spell Book, rather than spread between your character screen and main list of spells. This displays both the fishing spell icon, and your current fishing rank and skill:
A fish-style mouse cursor displays when you mouse-over the bobber.
Equipment
The Arcanite Fishing Pole (gained by winning the Stranglethorn Extravaganza Contest) has a new design (right, thanks Ainell). The Arcanite pole has been the best fishing pole for many years, but previously looked the same as a basic pole.
A new +3 fishing skill pole, Staats' Fishing Pole can be gained from the quest, A Taste for Grouper (see below).
Engineers will be able to create a Lure Master Tackle Box, using a recipe trained at 475 Engineering skill. This has 36 slots and can be used by everyone, not just engineers. The tackle box is classed as a new bag type called "Fishing Supplies". Fish catches and fishing Equipment can be stored in the box, plus many other items related to fishing, such as rewards from fishing daily quests. Cooked fish, Volatile Water and fishing-skill-enchanted gloves cannot be placed in the box. Further discussion (thanks Meadows and Idoru).
Engineers can make a new +150 lure - Heat-Treated Spinning Lure. The lure requires 250 fishing to use and lasts 15 minutes. This lure has the curious description, "Even works in lava!". All lava is currently fishable without specific lures.
A new +100 skill Feathered Lure can be created by cooks. This recipe is sold in exchange for 3 Epicurean's Awards (gained by completing Old Azeroth and Dalaran daily cooking quests), and requires cooking skill 450 to learn. Each Feathered Lure requires a Delicate Wing (animal meat, not caught by fishing).
Dwarven data miners have discovered a "Not Yet Implemented" Fishing Spear. The item requires fishing skill 1, "Use: Hurls your spear at a fish." This is likely to be a test item we will never be able to use.
Training
Like earlier expansions, professions will gain another rank in Cataclysm ("Illustrious"), adding another 75 skill points to the maximum personal skill (525). Illustrious Fishing is reported to cost 40g to train. Grand Master rank has reduced in cost, from 35g to 15g.
Every fishing trainer teaches all the ranks available to you (except KTC Train-a-Tron Deluxe on The Lost Isles, which only teaches Apprentice and Journeyman Fishing). The highest rank depends on the expansion you have, not the location of the trainer. All fishing ranks require level 5 (higher ranks formerly required level 10).
The table below shows the catches required to gain a skill point under normal conditions. The guild perk Working Overtime increases the chance to gain a skill increase by 10%. It is not clear whether this bonus applies to fishing (discussion).
| Current Fishing Skill | Average Catches per Skill Point Gain | |
|---|---|---|
| From | To | |
| 1 | 100 | 1.0 |
| 100 | 200 | 1.6 |
| 200 | 300 | 1.9 |
| 300 | 450 | 3.6 |
| 450 | 600 | 5.5 |
About 1800 successful catches are required to train from fishing skill 1 to 600.
Skill-ups after 500 were originally bugged (giving a skill-up every catch), but this is reported to be fixed.
Cooked Fish, Supplies and Catch Rates
For full details of the new cooked fish, alchemy fish/supplies, and catch rates, please read Cataclysm Catches »
Achievements
A new fishing achievement has been added for reaching 525 fishing skill - Illustrious Grand Master Fisherman. All the rank achievements now refer to reaching a certain fishing skill, rather than a named rank. For example, the Artisan Fisherman achievement requires you to "Obtain 300 skill points in fishing", not simply "Become an Artisan Fisherman."
There is also a Feat of Strength for the first angler on your realm to reach 525 fishing skill - "Realm First! Illustrious Angler". Like the WotLK realm firsts, only 1 angler per realm can gain this achievement, regardless of faction. Leveling fishing is fairly simple, so expect this achievement to be gained by someone within about 3 hours of the Cataclysm becoming available.
The table below lists other new personal fishing achievements:
The Deadliest Catch, for fishing up Gahz'ranka in Zul'Gurub, becomes a Feat of Strength. It will not be possible to complete with Cataclysm. The achievement is no longer required to become Salty.
Guild fishing achievements have being added. These require a certain number of catches from across your entire guild (not per member):
- That's A Lot of Bait - Catch 10,000 fish from fishing pools. Required to purchase the recipe for Seafood Magnifique Feast.
- We're Gonna Need A Bigger Boat - Catch 25,000 fish from fishing pools.
- Like Shooting Fish In A Barrel - Catch 50,000 fish from fishing pools.
Quests
"The Family and the Fishing Pole" quest survives as A Taste for Grouper. It now starts from Johnathan Staats at the new village of Lor'danel, Darkshore. The quest requires 4 Darkshore Grouper, which can still be caught from the sea next to the quest-giver. It rewards a new +3 fishing skill pole - Staats' Fishing Pole. A Taste for Grouper is available once you have completed the first 2 quests in the zone, The Last Wave of Survivors and Threat from the Water.
Horde quest, Snapjaws, Mon!, gains an Alliance equivalent: Snapjaws, Lad! from Dron Blastbrew in Stormfeather Outpost (The Hinterlands). Both quests require level 29. This means Nat Pagle's Extreme Angler FC-5000 pole is available to both factions.
Nat Pagle, Angler Extreme is still available. Catch locations are the same, but the no-junk skill of Swamp of Sorrows has increased to 425: Bring strong Lures if you want to complete the quest with only 225 fishing skill.
Quests associated with the Stranglethorn Extravaganza Contest have not changed. School of Tastyfish now cover both The Cape of Stranglethorn and Northern Stranglethorn.
Red Snapper - Very Tasty! is unchanged. Quests in Outland and Northrend are assumed not to have changed.
These fishing quests seem to have been removed:
- Gaffer Jacks and Electropellers - Wizbang Cranktoggle escaped to Lor'danel, but he no longer appears to offer fishing quests.
- Selling Fish - Dockmaster Baren can still be found in Lakeshire, but he no longer appears to offer quests.
- Nat's Measuring Tape and Gahz'ranka - Nat Pagle may still talk about it, and even offer to sell Mudskunk Lure, but Pagle's Point in Zul'Gurub does not exist anymore.
- Craftsman's Writs (Argent Dawn).
New daily fishing quests are available from level 10 for both Horde and Alliance. Rewards include 1 point of fishing skill. For full details of the new daily quests read Azeroth Daily Fishing Quests »
Learn More
- Cataclysm forum discussion - Topics tagged "Cataclysm".
- World of Warcraft: Cataclysm - Official preview information about the 3rd expansion.
- Wowpedia - Cataclysm - Preview with further zone and race information.
- Also in Cataclysm: Cataclysm Catches, Cataclysm Old Azeroth Changes, and Cataclysm Frequently Asked Questions.
