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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. The table below shows the approximate number of catches required to increase your fishing skill by a point. Since patch 4.3 this process is very variable, especially at higher skill levels. Below 300 fishing skill, it never seems to take more than 2 catches per skill point. Between 300 and 450, one skill point can require as many as 8 catches, although the average is much lower. Above 450 the maximum rises to at least 13. The pattern may not yet be fully understood, so use this data with caution.

Catches Required to Gain a Point of Fishing Skill
Current Fishing SkillAverage Catches per Skill Point Gain
FromTo
11001.0
1002001.6
2003001.9
3004503.6
4505255.5

About 1400 successful catches are required to train from fishing skill 1 to 525.

You can also gain fishing skill from completing Azeroth Daily Fishing Quests: Each daily quest awards 1 or 2 points of fishing skill. The Darkmoon Faire quest, Spoilin' for Salty Sea Dogs, rewards 5 points of fishing skill.

You cannot forget how to fish ((unlearn or reset the skill)). There is no need to unlearn fishing - it is secondary skill.

A "catch" means successfully clicking on the bobber, and looting. Looting more than one fish at the same time is still counted as only one catch.

Why Improving Fishing Skill?

Nat Pagle Fishing

Fishing skill is only needed to fish effectively (without catching junk) in open water. The main reasons to fish open water are:

...And that's it! Leveling fishing skill is far less important than it used to be. This is important for 2 reasons:

  1. Most professions have a 500-skill point grind before anything valuable (to a level 85) can be made. Fishing is different: Many catches only require fishing skill 1 - including most Valuable Fish. Before deciding to "level fishing", ask whether you need to actively level fishing? You probably do not.
  2. If you do decide to level fishing skill, there is no need to catch worthless fish for hours: Instead, fish for something you actually want! There are plenty of suggestions listed below. Each catch will contribute towards leveling your fishing skill - you will eventually reach 525. Why try harder?
Why include leveling guides if leveling is not important? New anglers often expect to need a leveling guide, because they use them for other professions. Fishing 1-525 Fast has been one of the most popular pages on El's Extreme Anglin', even though the method is very simple: Just catch fish!

Strategies for Improving Skill

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:

Does your guild need pool-fishing achievements? Skill-up while fishing from pools, and contribute towards achievements like That's A Lot of Bait.

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.

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 1-525 guide until at least 300 fishhing and cooking skill. After 300, you can fish pools for raw cookable fish, or continue fishing open water until 525.

Are you below level 85? Try gradually improving you fishing skill while you level:

Just want to reach maximum level fishing? If you don't care what you catch, fish anywhere! The fastest method is described in Fishing 1-525 Fast. However, reaching 525 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:

1-525 at Level 85

For those who are already level 85, there are many different ways to get fishing skill to 525 quickly. It depends on what else you want to gain. What suits you?

The final sections of this chapter contain suggested approaches for level 85s. 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 85.

Learn More

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