I just did an Uldum run, half way down the southern coast and got zero pools. I almost gave up. Then, after getting my Wetlands hatchling, I decided to check out TH. Much to my surprise, almost nothing attacked me all the way to the coast. When I got to the coast I got 10+ pools, all within easy reach, and nothing attacking me. It would be easier to get to some for horde, I had a horde NPC patrolling some of the pools. The alliance base didn't seem to have any pools.
I can't speak for the drop rate of the turtle itself, but it seems clear to me that TH has far more pools, you can ride instead of swim along the coast, and most of it is completely free of things attacking you.
As for the blue hat, and pet, I got those too, as well as the Rumsey recipe. They seemed to be very common among Cat fisherman I have spoken to. Again with RNG, I got my LFH with only 17 tasty fish, and a couple junk casts. On other characters I spent two hours each Sunday for months with no result. I see the turtle being a similar prospect. Leo got theirs in a couple casts, other people may never get it, even after hundreds of hours trying. That's how RNG works. The drop rate is still quite low.
Congrats to those who have it. Keep trying everyone else.