WoW Classic Fishing Guide 1-300

Vanilla WoW Horde Fishing Guide
  • Author: Furious
  • Date: December 1, 2018
  • Updated: November 30, 2023
  • Expansion: WoW Classic

Welcome to our fishing guide for WoW Classic! Of all the professions in the game, fishing is surely the most relaxing and laid-back of them all. All you need is a Fishing Pole and a level-appropriate body of water. Simply equip the pole, throw your line out, and wait for a bite – how much easier can it get?

Fishing is one of the three secondary professions, meaning that you can pick it up on any character regardless of your primary professions. The skill of fishing is great for collecting raw fish, most of which can be cooked for useful food. Some cooked fish can also provide combat bonuses, which makes the skill a good source of making gold at higher fishing levels.

Fishing will definitely take you a long time to max, which makes it nice to use as a break in between leveling your character. Where you can fish is dependent on your fishing level, so skilling it up so that it is on par with the zones you’ll be questing in will save you time later on. We’ll cover that and more in the rest of this guide, including the Booty Bay Fishing Competition and the unique rewards you can earn from fishing quests!

Starting Your Fishing Journey

Learning the fishing skill is very easy. You can visit the fishing trainer near your starting zone or a major city to pick up apprentice fishing. It’s a lot easier to just go to a major city and ask a guard to point you towards the fishing trainer. For Alliance this would include Darnassus, Ironforge, and Stormwind. Horde players can visit Orgrimmar, Thunder Bluff, or Undercity. There will be a list of all the fishing trainers later in the guide.

Wow Classic Fishing Darnshore

Once you’ve learned the skill for fishing, you should trade with the nearby fishing supplies vendor. You’ll at least need to buy a Fishing Pole to start with, but also consider buying some Shiny Baubles just to make your life a little easier. These will increase your fishing skill by 25 for 10 minutes.

After you have a fishing pole, equip it face a nearby body of water and use the Fishing ability to cast your line. Wait until your bobber jumps out of the water, and immediately right-click it to catch your fish. Try to time your click for when the bobber splashes a second time (as it’s hitting the water). If you aren’t quick enough, your catch will get away and you’ll need to try again.

Many zones in the game have a minimum fishing level requirement to cast in. You can use a lure to bypass this, but this isn’t recommended because these zones will make it more likely for fish to escape. At the same time, these zones also have a fishing level at which fish will not escape, which we will try to make the most of throughout the guide for quicker leveling.

Horde Guide 1-300

Assuming you have the right fishing level, you can fish in just about every zone in the game. There are multiple good areas to raise your fishing skill up to 300, but we’ll include some recommended zones to make life easier. Alternatively, there will also be a list of all zones and their fishing requirement mentioned later in the guide if you want some variety.

Apprentice Fishing (1-50)

You can fish in any starting zone for the first 50 levels. To make the rest of the guide easier, you should go to Orgrimmar and fish in the Valley of Honor. Use your Shiny Baubles to make this easier.

Once you reach at least 50 fishing, learn journeyman fishing from Lumak nearby. Trade with the fishing vendor next to him and pick up 5-10 Nightcrawlers to replace your baubles.

Journeyman Fishing (50-125)

Now head west to The Barrens and make your way to the Wailing Caverns dungeon found southwest of The Crossroads. Make your way through the area until you reach the entrance portal. Apply your Nightcrawlers and fish in the nearby pool.

Save any Deviate Fish you catch to sell for a nice profit on the auction house. Once you have at least 125 fishing, you’ll need to make your way to Booty Bay in Stranglethorn Vale. You can do this by heading east from The Crossroads to Ratchet and taking the boat to Booty Bay. On the lower level, go to The Happy Bobber fishing shop and trade with Old Man Heming.

Purchase Expert Fishing – The Bass and You from Old Man Heming for a gold. Head back to Booty Bay and find the fishing vendor, Zizzek. Purchase an Aquadynamic Fish Attractors if available, and a stack of Bright Baubles.

Wow Classic Fishing Horde Wailing Caverns

Expert Fishing (125-225)

Before you even start fishing, you should focus on getting a better pole. If you’re level 44 or higher, you should head to Revantusk Village in The Hinterlands to complete the quest: Snapjaws, Mon! This will reward you with Nat Pagle’s Extreme Angler FC-5000, one of the best fishing poles in the game.

You can access Revantusk Village by taking the zeppelin from Durotar to Tirisfal Glades. Now you have a long run south through Silverpine Forest, east through Hillsbrad Foothills, north through Arathi Highlands, and all the way east through The Hinterlands.

If you aren’t high enough level yet, you should head for Shadowprey Village in Desolace. You can access the zone by heading north from The Barrens, east through Ashenvale, then south through Stonetalon Mountains. Head for the southwest of the zone and jump into the water. Open all of the shellfish traps underwater until you find a Big Iron Fishing Pole.

Regardless of where you went first, your best option now is to go to Ashenvale found north of The Barrens. At 150 skill, no casts will escape, so this is the quickest option. Stay here until your fishing level is at least 205.

With at least 205 fishing, you should head to Dustwallow Marsh, found southeast of The Barrens. You’ll need to talk to an NPC in the zone later, so this will save you some time if you fish here now. Starting fishing in the inland waters (not the ocean) with your new pole and Bright Baubles until you cap out at 225 fishing.

Wow Classic Fishing Horde Ashenvale

Artisan Fishing (225-300)

Once you have 225 fishing skill, you’ll need to talk to Nat Pagle found southwest of Theramore Isle. Pick up the quest: Nat Pagle, Angler Extreme. Head to all 4 of the required zones and collect the special fish you need there.

The Feralas Ahi can be found southeast of Dire Maul. The Misty Reed Mahi Mahi can be catch southeast of Temple of Atal’Hakkar. For the Sar’theris Striker, go south of Shadowprey Village and fish in Sar’theris Strand. Finally, the Savage Coast Blue Sailfin can be found south of Grom’gol Base Camp at Savage Coast. Once finished, head back to Nat and learn artisan fishing as a reward.

Before you leave, fish next to Nat until you skill up to 226. Now you should keep fishing here all the way to 300 for the fastest leveling (fish won’t escape), or you can head to either Feralas or Tanaris for better fish (but slower leveling). (Or take a look at the zones between the 205-300 range found later in the guide). Use any lures you have and keep at it until you reach 300!

Wow Classic Fishing Horde Nat Pagle

Alliance Guide 1-300

Here is a guide for alliance players that you can use to reach 300 in fishing. Below we have some recommended fishing zones that will aim to make the fishing journey as quick as possible. You can check out the full list of fishing zones below if you want some variety, but fishing in a higher level zone will mean that more fish get away.

Apprentice Fishing (1-50)

Any starting zone will work for your first 50 levels. The rest of the guide will be easier if you stick to the waters of Stormwind City. Don’t forget to use your Shiny Baubles!

Once you get to 50 fishing, learn journeyman fishing from Arnold Leland just northwest of The Trade District. Trade with the fishing vendor nearby and purchase 5-10 Nightcrawlers to replace your baubles.

Journeyman Fishing (50-125)

Make your way to Westfall and start fishing there off the coast. Use your Nightcrawlers to make catches easier. Stay here until you reach at least 125 fishing.

Next, you’ll need to reach Booty Bay at the southern end of Stranglethorn Vale. You’ll need to run all the way along the main road to reach it if you don’t yet have the flight path. There you should find The Happy Bobber fishing shop and trade with Old Man Heming. Purchase Expert Fishing – The Bass and You from Old Man Heming for a gold.

Now take the boat from Booty Bay to Ratchet in The Barrens to make your way to Kalimdor. There you should find the fishing vendor, Zizzek. Purchase an Aquadynamic Fish Attractors if available, and a stack of Bright Baubles.

Wow Classic Fishing Alliance Westfall

Expert Fishing (125-225)

Unfortunately for the alliance, you cannot acquire Nat Pagle’s Extreme Angler FC-5000 because it is a reward from a horde-only quest. You’ll need to go to Desolace instead. This will require a long run taking you north to Ashenvale, then east to Stonetalon Mountains, and finally south to Desolace.

Go near Shadowprey Village in the southwest of the zone and swim into the water. Head for the bottom and open any shellfish traps you see. Continue doing so until you find a Big Iron Fishing Pole. It’s not as good as the FC-5000, but it’s the best you can get outside of the fishing tournament.

You should backtrack to Ashenvale and fish here until you reach 205 in fishing. Now return to The Barrens and take the road leading out southeast of the zone to access Dustwallow Marsh. Fish in the inland waters (not the ocean) here until you reach 225 in fishing. Remember to use your Bright Baubles.

Wow Classic Fishing Alliance Ashenvale

Artisan Fishing (225-300)

With 225 fishing skill, locate Nat Pagle found southwest of Theramore Isle. Accept his quest: Nat Pagle, Angler Extreme. Head to all 4 of the required zones and collect the special fish you need there.

The Feralas Ahi can be found southeast of Dire Maul. The Misty Reed Mahi Mahi can be catch southeast of Temple of Atal’Hakkar. For the Sar’theris Striker, go south of Shadowprey Village and fish in Sar’theris Strand. Finally, the Savage Coast Blue Sailfin can be found south of Grom’gol Base Camp at Savage Coast. Once finished, head back to Nat and learn artisan fishing as a reward.

Before leaving, continue fishing next to Nat until you reach 226 in fishing. Now you have the option of either staying here for quicker leveling (because no fish will get away) or you can head to Feralas/Tanaris for better fish (but slower leveling) and fish all the way to 300! You can also fish in any of the other zones listed in the 205-300 range below, but you will have more casts wasted by fish escaping. Don’t forget to use any lures you have!

Wow Classic Fishing Alliance Nat Pagle

Fishing Locations

1-55

  • Durotar
  • Mulgore
  • Tirisfal Glades
  • Orgrimmar
  • Thunder Bluff
  • Undercity
  • Elwynn Forest
  • Dun Morogh
  • Teldrassil
  • Stormwind City
  • Ironforge
  • Darnassus

55-130

  • Ashenvale
  • Duskwood
  • Hillsbrad Foothills
  • Redridge Mountains
  • Stonetalon Mountains
  • Wetlands
  • Wailing Caverns

130-205

  • Alterac Mountains
  • Arathi Highlands
  • Desolace
  • Dustwallow Marsh
  • Stranglethorn Vale
  • Swamp of Sorrows
  • Thousand Needles

205-300

  • Azshara
  • Felwood
  • Feralas
  • Moonglade
  • Tanaris
  • The Hinterlands
  • Un’Goro Crater
  • Western Plaguelands

300+

  • Azshara (Bay of Storms)
  • Deadwind Pass
  • Winterspring

Fishing Trainers

Alliance (Apprentice & Journeyman)

Horde (Apprentice & Journeyman)

Stranglethorn Fishing Extravaganza

Wow Classic Stranglethorn Fishing Extravaganza

One thing that adds some fun to the fishing skill is the Stranglethorn Fishing Extravaganza, AKA the Booty Bay Fishing Competition. This is a weekly, server-wide event that happens every Sunday between 14:00 and 16:00 server time.

During this time, several special pools of fish will spawn along the coast of Stranglethorn. These pools are called School of Tastyfish, each of which will contain Speckled Tastyfish. These fish are used exclusively for the competition and have no purpose outside of it.

You’ll need to fish inside these specific pools, ensuring that your bobber is fully within the pool to allow you to catch one. Just like any other pool of fish, they will disappear after 2-5 casts. It is important to note that any player on the server can cast into the pool, which means that there will be a lot of competition to catch the fish.

To win the Stranglethorn Fishing Extravaganza, you must be the first player to catch and hand in 40x Speckled Tastyfish. As you can imagine, this is an extremely difficult task when dozens of other players are competing at the same time.

Preparation

While there is no way to guarantee yourself a win, there are several things you can do beforehand to increase your odds. Here’s what you should do in preparation for the fishing contest:

How to Compete

The tournament is often won in 40 minutes or less, meaning that you’ll need to catch roughly a tastyfish per minute. This is a fairly tight time requirement and doesn’t leave much margin for error. Here are some tips to help you compete in the fishing tournament:

  • It is extremely unlikely that you win your first try. Instead, take your first attempt or two to familiarize yourself with what the pools look like, find a route you like, understand how much competition there is, and hopefully catch a rare fish.
  • The instant that a pool disappears, you should immediately mount up and ride to your next pool. Have a constant idea of where you’ll go next to minimize downtime.
  • Look at the image below to see where all the fishing nodes are located.
  • The fishing pools respawn roughly ~6 minutes after disappearing. Keep this in mind so you know when to circle back and fish in the respawned pool.
  • Stay in the water to maximize the distance between yourself and enemy mobs, but not so deep that you need to swim and can’t mount.
  • Make sure your fishing bobber lands within the circle of the pool you’re aiming for. Don’t be afraid to recast until it does. Keep yourself positioned so that your average cast will often land in the circle.
  • The western coast of Stranglethorn is littered with aggressive mobs. There are far less enemies on the southeast coast, but this comes with the risk of more players to compete against for pools. Watch out for the elite level ~47 giant that patrols the shore.
  • If you don’t win for your first few tries, don’t give up! The fishing tournament is a mixture of planning, execution, and luck. There’s always a chance that you catch a rare fish, which will give you a nice reward.

Booty Bay Fishing Competition School Of Tastyfish

Fishing Rewards

Special Fish

Valuable Fish

One of the upsides of fishing is that it can serve as a good way of making money. There are a handful of fish that are particularly valuable due to how they are used (and rarity). Here are the most valuable fish to catch:

  • Deviate Fish – These have two purposes. They can be cooked to create Savory Deviate Delight, which changes your appearance to a pirate or ninja. Alternatively, they can be used by an alchemist to make an Elixir of Giant Growth. You can find them in The Barrens and Wailing Caverns.
  • Oily Blackmouth – These are used by an alchemist to create Blackmouth Oil, which makes a number of useful potions. The western coast of Wetlands is the best place to find them.
  • Stonescale Eel – Likely the most valuable of them all, these are used by an alchemist to create Stonescale Oil, essential for a few important potions and flasks. Azshara and Tanaris are the two best zones for catching them.
  • Winter Squid – These are cooked to create Grilled Squid, one of the best foods in the game for rogues and hunters. They can be caught in Azshara, The Hinterlands, or Tanaris.

Time-Dependent Fish

A number of fish have different catch rates depending on the time of day (based on server time). There are also two specific fish that have a much higher catch rate during their respective season of the year. Here are all of the fish that can be caught depending on what time it is:

  • Raw Sunscale Salmon – These highest catch rate is during 12p.m.-6p.m. They can also be caught between 6p.m.-12a.m. and 6a.m.-12p.m.
  • Raw Nightfin Snapper – The best time for these is between 12a.m.-6a.m. They can also be caught between 6a.m.-12p.m. and 6p.m.-12a.m.
  • Stonescale Eel – The best time to catch them is between 12a.m.-12p.m. They can also be caught between 6p.m.-12a.m.
  • Winter Squid – These have the highest drop rate during Winter. This starts at the end of December and lasts through the middle of March.
  • Raw Summer Bass – These have the highest drop rate during Summer. This starts near the end of June and lasts towards the end of September.

Fishing Boosts

There are several ways that you can boost your fishing skill. This comes in the form of lures, poles, gear, and even an enchant. You can use these to make it easier to catch fish, or as a way of meeting a minimum requirement for fishing in a zone.

Lures

Poles

Gear & Enchants

Uses for High Level Fishing

  • Making Gold – A good number of fish are quite valuable to alchemists and cooks alike. Check out the “Valuable Fish” section later in the guide to see what you should catch.
  • Buff Food – Some of the best food offering combat bonuses can be made by cooking fish. This includes Winter Squid (+10 agility), Raw Summer Bass (+10 spirit), Raw Nightfin Snapper (+8/MP5), and Large Raw Mightfish/Raw Glossy Mightfish (+10 stamina).
  • Gahz’ranka in Zul’gurub – To summon an optional side boss in Zul’Gurub (Gahz’ranka), you’ll need a total of 350 fishing to fish him up. A lure will be required to reach this.

 

About the Author

Furious

If I'm not working or spending time with the family I'm probably gaming. Some of my favorite recent games I've played are Far Cry 5, World of Warcraft Classic, and 7 Days to Die.
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Tina
Tina
1 year ago

Head back to Zizzek and purchase an Old Man Heming? I think there’s a mistake there.

Last edited 1 year ago by Tina
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