MOP Classic Fishing Guide

Overview & Changes in MoP Classic Fishing

• Fishing is now streamlined: You can level from 1–600 in any zone, including Pandaria, with no junk thanks to Golden Carp replacing trash in low-skill areas.

• Automatic pole usage: The game auto‑equips a basic pole when you fish—no manual swap needed unless you equip a bonus pole.

• Skill-up progression: Skill gains slow between 300–600, but combining buff gear and dailies speeds things up.
  
  

Leveling Fishing: Step-by-Step

1. Start Fishing (Skill 1–150)

• Learn Fishing via any profession trainer (e.g. Stormwind or Orgrimmar) and place the skill on your bar.

• Fish in Pandaria zones, even if your level is low. From the first cast, you’ll catch Golden Carp instead of junk.

2. Progressing Mid‑Skill (150–375)

• Prime zones: Valley of the Four Winds, Krasarang Wilds.

• Catch intermediate fish (Emperor Salmon, Paddlefish) while leveling.

3. High Skill (375–600)

• Use zones like Kun-Lai Summit and Vale of Eternal Blossoms for rarer catches (Tiger Gourami, Spinefish, Jewel Danio, Redbelly Mandarin).

• Pair with dailies and consumables for efficiency.

4. Catches Required per Skill‑Point

Gear, Buffs & Utility Tools

Poles with Bonus Skill

• Arcanite Fishing Pole (+40) – from Booty Bay tournament

• Dragon Fishing Pole, Mastercraft Kalu'ak Pole, Jeweled Pole, Bone Pole (+30)

• Seth’s Graphite and Pandaren Pole (+20) for early upgrades.

Lures & Consumables

Ancient Pandaren Fishing Charm

This toy reveals extra fishing pools in Pandaria for an hour, without cooldown – great for rare fish farming.

Reputation & Daily Quests

The Anglers Faction (Krasarang Wilds)

• Begin dailies at level 90 + Fishing skill 1: each 3-day turn-in gives +1 Fishing skill, +500 Anglers rep, +1 Lesser Charm.

• Maxing reputations unlock rewards:

  • Honored: Pandaren Fishing Pole, Tiny Goldfish pet

  • Revered: Dragon Fishing Pole, Anglers Fishing Raft

  • Exalted: Anglers Tabard (teleport), Azure Water Strider mount

  • Each day’s dailies → potential +3 skill & +1,500 rep.

Rare Fish Turn‑Ins for Nat Pagle

• Turn in Mimic Octopus, Flying Tiger Gourami, Spinefish Alpha to gain rep for Nat Pagle friendship and bonus reputation.

• Friendship rewards include Nat’s Hat, built-in fishing membership boosts.

Lesser Charms of Good Fortune

• Earned through dailies (~3 charms/day), used at Shrine in Vale of Eternal Blossoms to get Mogu Runes of Fate for bonus raid loot.

Which Fish to Target & Why

• Golden Carp: everywhere in Pandaria; no junk, always gains skill and Cooking mat.

• Emperor Salmon / Paddlefish / Jade Lungfish: core for Cooking stat food and banquets.

• Jewel Danio / Redbelly Mandarin / Tiger Gourami / Spinefish: valuable in late‑game recipes and Nat Pagle turn‑ins.

These fish also often sell well at the Auction House, especially early in an expansion.

Best Zones by Skill Bracket

• Skill 1–300: Valley of the Four Winds for Golden Carp and convenient daily/Cooking hotspots.

• Skill 300–450: Krasarang Wilds for Salmon and Paddlefish, and to unlock Anglers daily quest access.

• Skill 450–600: Kun‑Lai Summit and Vale of Eternal Blossoms for rare fish like Tiger Gourami, Jewel Danio, Redbelly Mandarin, Spinefish.

Time Estimates

• ~3–6 hours to reach 600 skill if using lures, gear buffs, dailies, and focusing on Pandaria zones.

Known Issues & Tips

• Loot glitch: Recent reports cite an issue where casts produce no loot (no fish or Golden Carp), though skill-up still registers. Especially at high skill. Switching zones or relogging may help.

• Addon help: Popular fishing addon Angleur can automate casting, auto‑equip lures, rafts, gear and simplify the process.
  
  

Quick Checklist

1. Learn Fishing (trainer in capital city or directly with Nat Pagle in Pandaria).

2. Fish in Pandaria zones to avoid junk.

3. Use lures and a bonus pole for faster skill-up.

4. Daily dailies at Anglers Wharf → skill + rep + charms.

5. Focus on rare fish turn-ins for higher benefits.

6. Aim for Exalted to earn Dragon Pole, Water Strider mount, tabard.

7. Optionally use Ancient Pandaren Charm and Angleur addon to optimize.

TL;DR

Fishing in MoP Classic lets you level from 1 to 600 entirely within Pandaria—no trash loot, no zone-hopping. Use lures, bonus poles, and Anglers daily quests to speed progression, earn reputation and unlock exclusive rewards like the Azure Water Strider. It’s easy, useful, and synergizes beautifully with Cooking and charm bonuses.