The fastest way for a Night Elf to learn Fishing in World of Warcraft: Forever is to run straight to Astaia’s dock in Darnassus with 1 silver 23 copper in your bags. She teaches Fishing, Voloren on the same dock sells the pole, and you can cast from where you are standing. To find her, ask a Darnassus Sentinel about Fishing and follow the red flag it puts on your map, not the words “Tradesmen’s Terrace.”
We made this trip twice on our Night Elf Hunter on November 7. From the same spot at the city’s entrance, the first trip took us about six and a half minutes, because we went looking for the Terrace and got lost. The second, straight at the dock, took under a minute and a half. Below is the route, what to bring, and the mistakes worth skipping. The screenshots in this guide are from our own PC recording of the game.
The Fast Route to Astaia
- Get 1 silver 23 copper together. Apprentice Fishing costs 1 silver and the basic Fishing Pole costs 23 copper. If you are short, do not turn back: you can sell loot on the dock itself (more on that below).
- Take the road west out of Dolanaar. It leads to the city gate, where a first visit brings up “Discovered: Darnassus.” On foot at level 6, that took us about three and a half minutes, including a stop of nearly a minute at a Skinner’s camp along the way. If you are starting from another continent, our route to Darnassus from Stormwind gets you to the same place.
- Ask a Darnassus Sentinel. Talk to one on your way in, choose Profession Trainer, then Fishing. She tells you to see Astaia in the “Tradesman’s terrace” and puts a red flag on your map.
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Open your map and go to the flag, not the label. The flag sits at about 47, 57 on the Darnassus map. The words “Tradesmen’s Terrace” are printed over the ring of shops to the southeast, and that is the trap.
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Run southwest through the shops to the lake, then swim to the dock. The dock stands out in the water with a lantern hanging over it. We swam the last stretch on both trips rather than hunt for a way around, and it took no more than about 15 seconds.
One Dock Has Everything
You do not need to visit anywhere else once you reach the dock. Three NPCs stand within a few steps of each other:
- Astaia, Fishing Trainer. Talk to her, choose Train me, pick Apprentice Fishing and click Train.
- Voloren, Fishing Supplier. He sells the basic Fishing Pole for 23 copper.
- Talaelar, Fish Vendor. He will take your spare loot if you need the coin.
Talaelar saved us a trip. We reached Astaia with only 71 copper, so the Train button was grayed out. We sold spare loot to Talaelar a few steps away, had enough seconds later, and trained on the spot.
Skip the pole stop on the way if you can. Narret Shadowgrove, the Trade Supplies vendor in Dolanaar, charges the same 23 copper, so buy from him only if you are already at his stall. Our fishing pole guide lists the other vendors and the upgrades.
Catch Your First Fish Right There
The water around the dock is good enough for a first catch, and walking to a quieter lake costs you time. Here is the short version:
- Press K and drag the Fishing icon from the Fishing box onto your action bar.
- Right-click the pole in your bags to equip it.
- Face the water and click Fishing.
- Right-click the bobber when it splashes.
Our first bite came about 20 seconds into the cast, and it was a Raw Bristle Whisker Catfish, which raised our skill to 2. If other people are fishing beside you, keep your eye on your own bobber, because it is easy to lose track of which one is yours. Our full fishing guide covers each step, the bobber messages and how the skill works.
The Mistakes That Slowed Us Down
- Following the Terrace label. On our first trip we circled the shops, ended up at the Temple Gardens, asked a second Sentinel and wandered up to Craftsmen’s Terrace before we found the dock. The flag was on our map the whole time.
- Arriving short of silver. It only cost us a few seconds because Talaelar was right there, but check your bags before you leave Dolanaar so you know what you need to sell.
- Looking for the cast button in the wrong place. The Fishing tab on the right edge of the Professions window is the recipe list. We left the dock after training and stood at Lake Al’Ameth with that empty tab open, unable to cast. The icon you want is in the Fishing box on the window’s main page.
What to Do Once You Can Fish
Your Hearthstone is the quick way out. Ours was set in Dolanaar, so it saved us the run back along the road, and our Hearthstone guide shows how to set yours.
Once we knew Fishing, Lyreena Duskblade at her camp outside Dolanaar offered Camping 101: Fishing, which asks you to raise your skill to 20. That is also the skill Astaia wants before she teaches the Fish Bowl (Tier 1), one of the features our camping guide covers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a fishing trainer closer than Darnassus for Night Elves? We did not come across one in Shadowglen or Dolanaar while questing through both, and the Sentinel in Darnassus is what pointed us to Astaia. Blizzard’s new player’s starter guide says profession trainers are in starting areas and major cities, so ask a guard if you are unsure.
What level do you need to learn Fishing? Astaia’s list showed no level requirement on Apprentice Fishing, and we trained at level 6. The next rank, Journeyman Fishing, costs 5 silver and needs level 10 and Fishing 50.
How much does it cost to start fishing as a Night Elf? 1 silver 23 copper in total: 1 silver for Apprentice Fishing and 23 copper for the basic pole.
Where exactly is Astaia in Darnassus? On a dock in the lake at about 47, 57 on the Darnassus map. It counts as the Tradesmen’s Terrace, but it sits northwest of the map’s label, on the water.
Do you have to swim to reach the dock? We swam both times because it was the direct line, so we cannot promise a dry route from the shops. Swimming costs nothing, and on our first trip we came ashore on the bank right beside the dock and walked on.