Training
How do I learn to fish?
Find a fishing trainer (in a capital city, ask a guard), and learn the Apprentice Fishing skill. You will also need a Fishing Pole, which are sold by fishing suppliers. For more instructions, see Your First Catch.
Where should I go to improve my fishing skill?
Anywhere there are fish! Your fishing skill will increase at the same rate each time you catch a fish. Even catching junk will improve your skill, so you can skill-up anywhere. For leveling strategies, read the Training chapter.
How do I train as Expert/Artisan/Master/Grand Master/Illustrious? How can I increase my skill above 150/225/300/375/450?
All fishing ranks are trained from trainers. All ranks are taught by all fishing trainers. The ranks available to you depend on your expansion: The Burning Crusade for Master, Wrath of the Lich King for Grand Master, and Cataclysm for Illustrious.
All fishing books were removed by patch 3.1. The old artisan quest remains, but does not teach Artisan rank: It rewards Nat's Lucky Fishing Pole.
How do I unlearn fishing?
You can't forget how to fish! It's like learning to ride a 'strider. Fishing is a secondary professional skill, so there is no need to unlearn it.
Skill
What do I need a higher fishing skill for? Why am I catching junk items?
Higher skill will reduce the proportion of junk items you catch from open water. Junk items are generally less valuable that normal fish and items. Once your fishing skill equals (or is above) the area's no-junk skill, you no longer catch junk items. There is no known advantage from fishing skill above the area's no-junk skill. For detailed evidence, see The Role of Skill topic. You will never catch junk items from pools, even with low skill.
What skill do I need to fish in...?
You can cast anywhere with fishing skill 1. If your effective fishing skill is below the area's no-junk skill, a proportion of your catches from open water will be junk items, such as Driftwood. For a full list of zones, see Skill and Locations in the Getting Started chapter. For detailed evidence, see the Zone Base Fishing Skill topic.
When is skill calculated: At cast or catch?
Your fishing skill is calculated when you cast. This means that if your lure expires while waiting for the bobber to splash, you do not need to re-apply it until after you reel in your catch.
Gear
How can I exceed 525 skill?
Apply Lures and/or equip Fishing Poles and Fishing Gear with bonuses to skill. See the Equipment chapter for details.
Can fishing poles be enchanted?
Fishing Poles can only be "enchanted" with fishing line. Normal weapon enchants cannot be applied.
Catching Fish
When is the catch created: At cast or catch?
Your catch is created when you reel in ((click the bobber)). If you cast into a pool, and the pool is emptied (by another angler) before you reel in, your catch will be from open water, not the pool.
What does the message... mean?
Sometime people start hearing things while fishing...
- "No fish are hooked" - You reeled in the line too early or too late. Wait for the bobber to splash, then reel it in straight away.
- "The water is too shallow!" - Common in Outland, where you can only fish water that is deep enough for a Tauren to swim in. Outland fish evidently prefer deeper water than those in Azeroth.
- "No target..." or "Target not in range..." - You are trying to attack with your pole, not cast a line. Cast by clicking the Fishing icon in your spellbook, as shown here.
Fishing is boring... How can I make it more interesting?
Some suggestions:
- Do a little at a time, for example while waiting for boats (felonyOne) or dungeons/battlegrounds to start (Falchan).
- If you are competitive, take part in the Stranglethorn Fishing Extravaganza or Kalu'ak Fishing Derby - even if you don't win, you will increase your skill while trying (WingedNazgul).
- Think about the rewards from your fishing - for example, profits from sales or lower cost of keeping a pet.
- Drink while fishing (Houdy/Pagle).
- Relax... chat, watch the world go by.
- Do something else... ((Play in windowed mode while simultaneously browse the internet (Houdy), or chat on the telephone (JFoobar). Fishing is one of the few aspects of World of Warcraft that does not demand your full attention.))
Ultimately, you don't have to fish, so if you don't like it, don't do it!
Pools (Schools)
How can I track pools on the mini-map?
Learn the "Find Fish" ability from a Weather-Beaten Journal, then display fishing pools on the mini-map. Journals can be found in Curious Crate, Heavy Supply Crate, Iron Bound Trunk, Mithril Bound Trunk and Watertight Trunk. The journal requires at least 100 fishing skill to use.
Why can't I find a certain type of pool?
Not all pool types can be found in all zones. Study the Pools and Wreckage chapter or Fish Finder for a list. If you still can't find the right pool, fish some other pools in the area, and then wait for new pools to appear. For an explanation of why you should do this, read about Pool Spawning.
Can I fish from schools of Northern Salmon, Red Snapper, or Tasty Reef Fish?
School of Northern Salmon, School of Red Snapper and School of Tasty Reef Fish can only be fished with the relevant quest on your log. Use the net povided by the quest, not a fishing pole.
Specific Catches
Where can I catch a... ?
To find where to catch a specific fish, use the Fish Finder. Skill and Locations contains a list of the rules governing fish location. For a complete list of fish and locations, read the Gazetteer topic.
How can I catch Winter Squid/Summer Bass?
Winter Squid can only be caught between the autumn (fall) and spring equinoxes: Start of 23 September to the end of 19 March (precise dates may vary). Raw Summer Bass can only be caught between the spring and autumn (fall) equinoxes. For further evidence see the Catching Winter Squid topic.
How do I catch Mr. Pinchy and get a Magical Crawdad pet?
Mr. Pinchy is a rare catch from Highland Mixed School, found in flight-only areas of Terokkar Forest. These areas require an effective skill of at least 405 to cast a line. The Magical Crawdad non-combat pet is one of a number of possible gifts Mr. Pinchy may give. For more information, read the Catching Furious Crawdad and Mr. Pinchy topic.
Can I catch mounts? Where's the Sea Turtle?
Yes. If you are very dedicated, or very lucky. The Sea Turtle can be caught from Northrend and Cataclysm-level pools. Read about Catching the Sea Turtle Mount.
How can I make money from fishing?
You will primarily make money from selling to others via the Auction House, not by selling to vendors. Consequently there is not "one best way to make money" - it will depend on the current supply and demand at your local Auction House. For further discussion, see the Valuable Fish chapter.
Learn More
Also in Getting Started: Why Fish?, Your First Catch, (Not) Catching Junk, Fishing Skill, Equipment and Pools, and Skill and Locations.
Comments about Frequently Asked Questions
Below are readers' comments about "Frequently Asked Questions":
Can you explain 'Open water'?
Nahevrys, December 2011:
Hello all!
I am new to the forum and I have a stupid question kinda noobish.
When you say 'open water' it means that you are fishing 'not' in a pool, right? Everywhere (sea, lake, rivers and so) is considered 'open water'?
And "inland" means not on the coast but in rivers/lakes/puddles...
I know that it's stupid but sometimes I am lost, lol.
Thank you very much for your answer(s)
~Nahe~
el, December 2011:
Open water means not pools (not schools of fish). Unlike pools, open water has no special visual indication or mouseover text, and never runs out of fish. So in Un'Goro Crater open water can be found (among other places) at the hot springs. You will find pools there too, but if the bobber lands away from a pool, you'll be fishing open water.
Not all fishable liquid is water, so you'll find some references to "open lava", as on the mountain in the middle of Un'Goro Crater.
Inland means "not coastal". Generally water that is not sea, found in the interior of zones. I'd call them freshwater (and saltwater), but WoW does not obviously implement salinity**. The term can get vague, especially around estuaries, and especially in Northrend, where only coastal water that takes a specific local name (other than the zone name) is actually filled with coastal fish.
Does that help?
(** The position of character models should be at slightly different heights in the water, but to my knowledge all float the same.)
GormanGhaste, December 2011:
I have noticed that Mingyao floats noticeably higher in the hypersaline waters of Shok'Thokar and nearby lakes and ponds, but perhaps that is because she is so peculiarly fresh.
Nahevrys, December 2011:
Thank you so much for the accurate answer el!
Now is everything clear :3Wishing you a merry Christmas and a Happy new year I thank you again.
~Nahe~
