Skill Gains
You improve your fishing skill by successfully catching fish. It doesn't matter where you fish or what you catch, so long as you successfully catch something. You can even catch junk items. In the next section we will discuss why you might want to do more than "just catch fish" to skill-up fishing.
The table below shows the expected number of catches required for each point of fishing skill. As discussed in the Role of Skill, the number of catches per skill point gradually rises.
| Current Fishing Skill | Average Successful Catches per Skill Point Gain | |
|---|---|---|
| From | To | |
| 1 | 115 | 1 |
| 115 | 135 | 2 |
| 135 | 160 | 3 |
| 160 | 190 | 4 |
| 190 | 215 | 5 |
| 215 | 295 | 6 |
| 295 | 315 | 9 |
| 315 | 355 | 10 |
| 355 | 425 | 11 |
| 425 | 450 | 12 |
About 2670 successful catches are required to train from fishing skill 1 to 450.
((These numbers change from patch to patch. If they have changed again, please let us know.))
You cannot forget how to fish ((unlearn or reset the skill)). There is no need to unlearn fishing - it is secondary skill.
Why Improving Fishing Skill?
If you only fish Pools and Wreckage, you do not need to improve your fishing skill. You will be able to catch most Valuable Fish. You will be able to compete in fishing Contests.
Fishing skill is only needed to fish effectively (without catching junk) in open water. The main reasons to fish open water are:
- Catch raw fish to improve cooking skills up to 300. After cooking skill 300, Outland and Northrend pools contain fish that can be cooked.
- Complete most daily fishing quests: All 5 of the Outland Daily Fishing Quests require fishing in open water. 2 of the Northrend Daily Fishing Quests cannot be completed fishing pools.
- Complete some Achievements, such as "The Coin Master".
- Gain the Giant Sewer Rat minipet.
- Create Fish Feast most efficiently (by fishing in Wintergrasp).
- You don't like to keep moving while you fish!
Leveling fishing skill is far less important than it used to be.
Strategies for Improving Skill
Do you want to develop your cooking skills alongside fishing? You do not need to cook in order to fish, but the majority of fish are edible, and they taste better when cooked. If the answer is yes, follow the Fishing and Cooking 1-450 guide until at least 300 fishhing and cooking skill. After 300, you can fish Outland and Northrend pools for raw cookable fish, or continue following the guide until 450.
Are you below level 80? Try gradually improving you fishing skill while you level:
- The "low-level" fish caught in areas with low base skill requirements are genuinely useful at low-level. Cook them and use them to recover between combat.
- There are plenty of casual opportunities to fish during downtime. For example, while waiting for boats, or waiting to be called up to battlegrounds or raids.
- Fishing in capital cities allows you to "rest", so you will gain experience from quests faster.
Want to earn some gold, start working on achievements, or win fishing contests? Start fishing pools. You only need fishing skill 1 to fish pools, but catching fish from pools still improves your skill:
- Northrend pools contain many Valuable Fish. The Fishing 1-450 with Gold guide gives some suggestions.
- Time-consuming Achievements, like catching Mr. Pinchy or the Sea Turtle, require pool fishing. Alternatively, start fishing easy (low skill) open water for catches like Old Crafty, Old Ironjaw, or the One That Didn't Get Away.
- Both the Stranglethorn Fishing Extravaganza and Kalu'ak Fishing Derby Contests are won by fishing pools.
Just want to reach maximum level fishing? If you don't care what you catch, fish anywhere! The fastest method is described in Fishing 1-450 Fast. However, reaching 450 skill is only part of the challenge. To cast in the hardest open water, you will also need some Fishing Gear and/or a good pole. Some suggestions:
- At mid or high levels, complete the quest "Nat Pagle, Angler Extreme" for the +25 bonus Nat's Lucky Fishing Pole. At high level, the Mastercraft Kalu'ak Fishing Pole is the most reliable higher-bonus pole to gain.
- Complete Northrend Daily Fishing Quests for a chance to gain a Weather-Beaten Fishing Hat (+5 bonus, with a "free" +75 lure), and rarely fishing poles and line. The Outland Daily Fishing Quests can also reward the hat.
- Compete in the Stranglethorn Fishing Extravaganza. If you don't win the Arcanite Fishing Pole, there is a chance of gaining High Test Eternium Fishing Line, a Lucky Fishing Hat, or Nat Pagle's Extreme Anglin' Boots. Competing in the Kalu'ak Fishing Derby can reward Boots of the Bay, but only for the winner - and you may prefer Dread Pirate Ring.
Some of those activities can be started with low skill, and you will gain skill while completing them. Don't wait until 450 skill to start.
1-450 at Level 80
For those who are already level 80, there are many different ways to get fishing skill to 450 quickly. It depends on what else you want to gain. What suits you?
The final sections of this chapter contain suggested approaches for level 80s. There is no "standard" method to level fishing. You may mix different methods to suit your personal style. Most suggestions will also be useful for those at lower level, but the text assumes level 80.
Learn More
- 3.3 - no trash in fishing pools? - So we level fishing now for... what purpose exactly? Forum discussion.
- Equipment - Describes gear, consumables and enhancements that can be used to bolster your fishing skills, or help you fish.
- Contests - Describes Azeroth's fishing contests: What you need to do, what you can win, and how to win.
- Outland Daily Fishing Quests - Walkthrough for all the level 70 daily fishing quests, with rewards.
- Northrend Daily Fishing Quests - Guide to daily fishing quests that start in Dalaran.
- Also in Training: Ranks, Fishing 1-450 Fast, Fishing 1-450 with Gold, Fishing and Cooking 1-450 Alliance, Fishing and Cooking 1-450 Horde, and Fishing and Cooking 1-450 Part 2.
