This article was written by Abrams, 60 Dwarf Hunter, former member of CoL Guild, current member of Eden Guild, US-Mal’Ganis PvP Server.
Nope, Fishin’ ain’t for wimps. *spits to the side* It takes skill, patience, and knowin’ where to fish. I’m gonna’ clue you in to how to make Jimmy Houston look like a noob. So pull up a stool, sit right there by the fire, and don’t forget to pass the ’shine whilst I learn you ’bout fishin’
This is a guide for the Human starting area. The Elves would have similar trainers and I will locate them where possible. Cooking can take a boost here too if you have the desire. Place color denotes PvP risk.
Goldshire - There is a tradeskill vendor by the cart in town. Buy a pole, a handful of bright baubles, and the recipes to cook the small brightfish and the Mudsnappers. Go over to the house by the lake just north-east of the Inn. There on the dock is a fishing trainer. Learn the skill, and take the fishing icon you get out of your skills book, and place it on your toolbar. That is how you cast. Bait your hook by right-clicking a bauble, and applying the glowing hand to your pole. Find a nice spot near a tree for shade, and maybe some brush in the water. Face the water, and you can even wade in if you want, and click the fishing icon, and watch your first cast. Put the cursor over the bobber and wait for a nibble. When you see the bobber bob, right click it to set the hook and see what you caught. Small Brightfish and Longjaw Mudsnappers will fill your stringer for now. Watch your skill rise. Refresh bait as needed , and fish until your skill hits 50. 20 minutes max. Go to the fishing trainer and get Journeyman fishing as long as you are level 5 or higher. Go into the Inn and cook up those Brightfish, and your cooking skill should be 25 or so. Hang on to the the Mudsanppers for later cooking Grab some more lures, and if you can afford it, get the nightcrawlers you can use now, and lets head to Westfall.
Westfall - Ocean fishing! Go to the coast, pitch a blanket, and throw a towel over the cooler to keep the drinks cool. Find a spot where there are no pesky murlocs. Crabs will wander these areas, but they only bother you if you bother them. Bait-up, and begin catching fish like Blackmouth Oily Fins. Alchemists like these for underwater breathing potions and the like, so don’t try and eat those. Give them to a friend (if you have any) or sell them on the auction house (if you don’t). Fish your skill up to 100 or so and we’ll move on to Redridge and Firefins.
Redridge - Contested area fishing. Keep your weapons handy. This is where you find fishin’ ain’t for wimps. The first time you have to kill a rogue with your fishin’ pole, you’ll know what I mean. (I keep my polearm handy for a rapid switch-out.) But its worth the risk. Fish near town or find a lonely alcove by swimming to it. Watch out for murlocs and sea serpents. (more non-wimp stuff) Fish here until you get your skill up to 125-130 and be able to get expert fishing. Should only take a couple of nightcrawlers to do that. Once you have a handful of Firefins, contact that alchemist friend of yours. If you have no friends, AH them. Now its time to move on south to Stranglethorn Vale.
Stranglethorn Vale - The reason I like to fish here next is that you will need to go to Booty Bay to get a book to learn you Expert Fishing. It ain’t cheap, at a full gold piece for it, but if you are old enough to fish in STV, you are old enough to afford it. This will allow you to learn fishing up to 225. You will need to be level 20, and he cards. Once you have learned it, fish the waters here, or in the Swamp of Sorrows, or Southshore and get your skill up to 150-160 and head to Theramore.
Theramore - You will need 150 skill to wet your line here, and need a powerful lure. If you have an engineer friend, have him make you Aquadynamic fishing lures with nightcrawlers you can find in Raven Hill inside the ghouls there. If you have no friends, take up engineering, or buy them when you can find them. Fish your skill up here until you hit 200. Then skedaddle on over to Feathermoon Island for professional class fishin’. Take your skill up on Feathermoon Island , and send the Stonescale Eels and such to your alchemist friend. They will love you for it. If you have no friends, AH them for some decent coin. Once you hit 225, its time to talk to Nat Pagel. Legendary Fisherman Extraordinaire, and learn how to be an Artisian Fisherman. Head back to Theramore Isle.
Nat Pagel - While he could just teach you what you need to know, he will make you do some “wax-on, wax-off” stuff first. It’s a good thing really, because you may get to fish places you haven’t yet, and you can tell the wife its for business. He will have you prove yourself by being level 40, and bringing him back such unique fish such as:
• Misty Reed Mahi Mahi from the Misty Reed Strand in the Swamp of Sorrows.
• A Sar’theris Striker from the Sar’theris Strand in Desolace.
• Feralas Ahi from the Verdantis River of Feralas.
• Savage Coast Blue Sailfin from the Savage Coast of Stranglethorn Vale.
(save any of these you may catch on your journeys-they keep in the freezer for about a year)
Once you have that done, return to Feathermoon Isle and raise you skill to 300 there. You will catch more Stonescale Eelas there, and some unique and interesting flotsam. (or is it Jetsam?) like Black Pearls, and other shiny stuff.
That’s all there is too it. Once your skill is up to 300, you can fish about anywhere with strong enough bait. Keep your eyes peeled for quests and vendors that sell better fishing poles and recipes to cook what I call the “trash” fish like Swordtails, and Redgills. Now some fish like Glossy Mightfish, Nightfins, and Salmon cook up into food that increase your Stamina, Spirit, mana and health regeneration, and they all stack. Worth doing in my opinion. If you are a Hunter, what you save in pet food alone can pay for your habit.
I found a very nice fishing pole off the coast of Desolace. It was a Big Iron Fishing Pole, and it adds +20 to your fishing skill, it got hung up in a lobster trap underwater there. An underwater breathing potion or three comes in handy if you wanna look for it. Here is where your alchemist friend comes in handy, as they will happily make you a few in return for all those Blackmouth Oily fins you sent them from before. You did send them some right? If not, head to the AH and buy some at highly inflated prices, or farm Viscious Fallout in Gnomeregan for a Hydrocane.
That ’bout covers it friends. Not quit hoggin’ the ’shine Slaterok, and lets go fishin’.
