Artisan Fishing Quest: Passing 225 Skill
- Posted by Walkere on April 16th, 2008 filed in Professions
Fishing, like Cooking and First Aid, requires a quest to reach the Artisan level. It still strikes me as a bit odd that a quest is still required to get from 225 to 300 - but you just need a book to max out at 375.
Nonetheless, you’ll eventually have to do this quest to improve your Fishing skill and fish in most Outland waters. I recently did this quest on my Hunter some time after I hit level 60. Here are some tips and reference sources to help you complete the quest as quickly as possible.
What You’ll Need, and What You Can Expect
First, you need to have maxed your fishing out at 225. This is the only requirement for starting the quest.
The entire process - getting the quest, finding the fish, and handing the quest in - will probably take shortly over an hour. If you do this later - after you have an Epic Land Mount - you’ll save some time. There’s a good deal of running around involved.
You’ll also want to have the flight points in Desolace, Feralas, Stranglethorn Vale, and Swamp of Sorrows. If you’ve followed Jame’s Leveling Guide, you should have hit all these zones. Otherwise you might need to run out to Desolace.
Fishing bonuses are not strictly required, but one set of Bright Baubles will be very helpful for the Feralas leg. Don’t forget a fishing pole. The regular one will do, but if you’re a Hordie you should definitely have Nat Pagle’s Extreme Angler FC-5000 from the quest Snapjaws, Mon! in the Hinterlands.
Getting the Quest
Once you’re ready, you’ll need to meet up with Nat Pagle. He’s on an island in Dustwallow Marsh, southwest of Theramore Isle. He’s just off the west coast at about 58, 60.
If you’re a Hordie, fly to Mudsprocket. Head east through the wilderness, climb over the mountains, and swim out to the island. Alliance characters can start at Theramore and swim straight out to the island.
Nat Pagle should give you the quest Nat Pagle, Angler Extreme. The objective of this quest is to run around to four zones, catch four special fish, and bring them back to Nat.
A Word About the Quest Item Fish
If you read the text in your quest log, it will tell you where to catch each fish. It is very important that the text above your minimap matches the area named in the quest log.
For example, the Feralas Ahi must be fished out of the Verdantis River. Fishing anywhere else in Feralas will be nothing but a waste of time.
Once you’re in the right location, it will typically take a few casts to catch the quest fish. I had to cast ten times for one of the fish - the rest I got within two or three. If you’re fishing for more than a few minutes, double check that you are in the right location.
Fishing Around the World
To complete the quest, you’ll have to do quite a bit of traveling. Here’s what I find to be the most efficient way to do this (for the Horde).
Start at Nat Pagle.
The first destination is Feralas. Swim back to the mountains, climb through, and ride over to Mudsprocket. Fly to Camp Mojache in Feralas.
Follow the road west the Verdantis River. You’ll find it at approximately 62, 52. To avoid failed fishing attempts, your effective Fishing Skill should be 300. Attach the appropriate lure (Bright Baubles will suffice) and fish until you get a Feralas Ahi.
Now head to Desolace. Run back to Camp Mojache. Take the flight path to Shadowprey Village in Desolace.
If you leave the town and walk directly south, you should end up in the Sar’theris Strand. Anywhere from 24, 76 to the southern border of the map will work. A lure is unnecessary in Desolace - just cast away until you catch Sar’theris Striker.
At this point, we need to end up back in the Eastern Kingdoms. If your hearthstone is up, you may want to hearth to Shatt and/or Orgrimmar and take the Zeppelin to Grom’gol. Otherwise, run back to Shadowprey Village, fly to Ratchet, and take the boat to Booty Bay. Either way, find your way to Stranglethorn Vale.
Once in Stranglethorn, make your way to the Savage Coast. This is basically anywhere along the western coast. If you’re in Booty Bay, you can head to the little cove by Pretty Boy Duncan (around 27, 68). If you headed to Grom’gol, you can just head directly west to the coast (around 29, 26). No lure necessary, fish until you get a Savage Coast Blue Sailfin.
Last stop - Swamp of Sorrows. Head back to town and take the flight path to Stonard. Ride directly east to the coastline with all of the murlocs. You should be in the Misty Reed Strand. Find an empty spot and start fishing. Again, no lure necessary - be patient until you get a Misty Reed Mahi Mahi.
Head Back, Turn In
Now it’s time to head back and turn the quest in. Run back to Stonard. Fly down to Booty Bay. Take the boat to Ratchet. Fly down to Mudsprocket. Run out to Nat Pagle.
Congratulations! You’re now an Artisan angler. Now you’ve got hours of mind-numbing fishing ahead of you before you can reach 300 - and later 375 - fishing skill.
The good news is, you’ll now be able to fish in Outland. If you use a good fishing pole (+20 or +25) and a good lure (+100), you’ll be able to fish consistently in Zangarmarsh once your base skill is 250-275. You’ll be able to fish consistently in lower Terokkar once your base skill is around 300-325.
Just keep fishing, and slowly your skill will go up. Good luck.
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