This topic develops a simple gazetteer that shows which fish may be caught in which zones. On this page:
Approach
To the casual fisherman or woman, there may seem to be a lot of variety in which fish can be caught in which zone. The pattern is actually very simple for open-water fishing. There is no need for a matrix that lists every fish and every zone.
I studied the fishing entries in the Book of Thott in great detail. I summarised the fish catches recorded in each zone, splitting them into inland and coastal areas. I ignored "unreliable" data:
- Locations that cannot be mapped accurately.
- Fish types representing less than 2% of total catch (Thott's records include many accidental entries).
- Locations where the total catch recorded was less than 100 (except where I have personally fished there).
- Quest-only fish.
- Cross-boundary locations, such as rivers (it is not clear which zone the catch actually came from).
Pools have not been included in the gazetteer. Sagefish and Greater Sagefish catches have been ignored (these can only be caught from pools). Fortunately pools for Alchemy fish (Oily Blackmouth, Firefin Snapper and Stonescale Eel) are found in areas of sea where the fish can also be caught in open water.
I grouped zones where the same sets of fish were caught. These zone groups were used to create the gazetteers shown below.
Inland Fishing
The table below shows the zone groups that common types of freshwater (inland) fish can be caught in. "X" indicates the fish can be caught in zones within the zone group. The zones in each group are explained below the table.
| Fish/Zone Group | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning Eel | - | - | - | - | X | X |
| Oily Blackmouth | - | - | - | - | X | - |
| Plated Armorfish | - | - | - | - | - | X |
| Raw Brilliant Smallfish | X | X | - | - | - | - |
| Raw Bristle Whisker Catfish | - | X | X | X | - | - |
| Raw Longjaw Mud Snapper | X | X | X | - | - | - |
| Raw Mithril Head Trout | - | - | - | X | X | - |
| Raw Nightfin Snapper | - | - | - | - | X | X |
| Raw Redgill | - | - | - | - | X | X |
| Raw Sunscale Salmon | - | - | - | - | X | X |
| Raw Whitescale Salmon | - | - | - | - | - | X |
Zone groups contain the following zones:
- Zone Group 1 - Dun Morogh, Durotar, Elwynn Forest, Mulgore, Teldrassil, and Tirisfal Glades.
- Zone Group 2 - The Barrens, Blackfathom Deeps, Darkshore, Darnassus, The Deadmines, Loch Modan, Orgrimmar, Silverpine Forest, Stormwind City, Thunder Bluff, The Wailing Caverns, and Westfall.
- Zone Group 3 - Arathi Basin, Ashenvale, Duskwood, Hillsbrad Foothills, Redridge Mountains, Stonetalon Mountains, and Wetlands.
- Zone Group 4 - Alterac Mountains, Arathi Highlands, Desolace, Dustwallow Marsh, Scarlet Monastery, Stranglethorn Vale, Swamp of Sorrows, and Thousand Needles.
- Zone Group 5 - Azshara, Felwood, Feralas, The Hinterlands, Maraudon, Moonglade, The Temple of Atal'Hakkar, Un'Goro Crater, and Western Plaguelands.
- Zone Group 6 - Alterac Valley, Burning Steppes (Dreadmaul Rock), Deadwind Pass, Eastern Plaguelands, Feralas (Jademir Lake only), Scholomance, Silithus (Hive'Regal), Stratholme, Winterspring, and Zul'Gurub.
Five other fish are found in certain zones only:
- Darkshore Grouper - Darkshore.
- Deviate Fish - The Barrens (Oasis only) and The Wailing Caverns.
- Oil Covered Fish - Stonetalon Mountains.
- Raw Loch Frenzy - Loch Modan.
- Sickly Looking Fish - Blackfathom Deeps, Silverpine Forest, Tirisfal Glades, and Undercity.
Thott also records catches of Raw Brilliant Smallfish and Raw Longjaw Mud Snapper in the Alterac Mountains. I have only caught Raw Bristle Whisker Catfish and Raw Mithril Head Trout there, so I have listed the zone in group 4.
Coastal Fishing
The table below shows the zone groups that common types of saltwater (coastal) fish can be caught in. "X" indicates the fish can be caught in zones within the zone group.
| Fish/Zone Group | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big-mouth Clam | - | - | - | - | X | X |
| Darkclaw Lobster | - | - | - | - | - | X |
| Firefin Snapper | - | - | X | X | X | - |
| Large Raw Mightfish | - | - | - | - | - | X |
| Oily Blackmouth | - | X | X | X | - | - |
| Raw Glossy Mightfish | - | - | - | - | X | - |
| Raw Rainbow Fin Albacore | - | X | X | - | - | - |
| Raw Rockscale Cod | - | - | - | X | X | - |
| Raw Slitherskin Mackerel | X | X | - | - | - | - |
| Raw Spotted Yellowtail | - | - | - | X | X | X |
| Raw Summer Bass | - | - | - | - | X | X |
| Stonescale Eel | - | - | - | - | X | X |
| Winter Squid | - | - | - | - | X | X |
Zone groups contain the following zones:
- Zone Group 1 - Durotar and Teldrassil.
- Zone Group 2 - The Barrens, Darkshore, Silverpine Forest, and Westfall.
- Zone Group 3 - Ashenvale, Hillsbrad Foothills, and Wetlands.
- Zone Group 4 - Arathi Highlands, Desolace, Dustwallow Marsh, Stranglethorn Vale, and Swamp of Sorrows.
- Zone Group 5 - Azshara, Feralas, The Hinterlands, Stranglethorn Vale (Jaguero Isle only), and Tanaris
- Zone Group 6 - Azshara (Bay of Storms, Hetaera's Clutch and Scalebeard's Cave only).
In addition, Darkshore Groupers can be caught off the coast of Darkshore.
Ocean Fishing
It is possible to fish in each of the three oceans - The Veiled Sea, The Forbidding Sea, and The Great Sea. The easiest way to fish in these areas is to swim along the coast until you reach a location that is not marked on the map. If you travel far enough, you may even find an abandoned house or farmstead to shelter in.
The fish caught from the three oceans (and the fishing skill required to fish them) are the same as the zone you are closest to. For example, the part of The Veiled Sea south of Feralas contains the same fish as coastal Feralas (coastal zone group 5). However, if you keep on swimming south and you will reach the part of The Veiled Sea that is in Silithus. Cast a line into the sea there and you will catch zone group 6 inland (freshwater) fish. How strange!
Further Reading
- Pools and Wreckage - This chapter contains a list of pool locations.
- Getting Started - This chapter includes a simple explanation of the rules governing fish location.
- Draznar's Fishing Zone and Loot Lists - Draznar's original matrix showing fish types and locations.
- Thepp's Lieu de Pêche - Matrix showing fish types and locations (PDF in French).