How is a fish mounted

On that celebrated day, my cousin and I, adventurous teenagers at the time, had taken the family's foot center console some 20 miles east of North Miami Beach's Haulover Inlet. After reaching blue water we picked up a textbook-perfect weed line and began trolling ballyhoo through the pancake-flat seas.

Nothing happened until mid-morning, when a big bull struck the port flat line. After a spectacular jump, the fish sounded and remained deep for most of the fight. Spurred by thoughts of fame and glory, I applied as much pressure as the pound tackle would take. Thirty minutes later I had the dolphin within gaffing range. My cousin did the honors, but wasn't prepared for the fish's explosive reaction when it felt the steel. I could only watch helplessly as he lost his balance and fell onto the gunwale in what proved to be an unsuccessful attempt to keep the dolphin from wrestling the gaff out of his hands.

My cousin eventually recovered from the incident, but the gaff did not. It floated back to the surface, badly bent. Another 15 minutes passed before I was again able to lead the exhausted dolphin alongside the boat. Armed with a gaff we had borrowed from a nearby boat, my cousin stuck the fish again and swung it into the cockpit. Victory at last! The taking of that pound fish was quite an exciting achievement for a pair of inexperienced teenagers, and I'm reminded of our adventure every time I look at that fish on my office wall.

In addition to rekindling fond memories, recognizing a major angling achievement or simply getting you charged up for your next fishing trip, a mounted fish is a guaranteed attention-grabber. Don't think so? When was the last time you failed to notice a mounted fish on display in a restaurant, marina, tackle shop or friend's home? Fiberglass Saves Fish These days, having a fish mounted is easier than ever before.

Better still, the fish doesn't even have to be killed! Unlike years past, when the entire fish or some parts were used to create a mount, modern fish taxidermy is now progressing towards percent fiberglass reproductions. Benefits include the conservation of fish, followed by the durability and variety offered by pure fiberglass replicas.

The conservation aspect may not seem important with fish such as dolphin, striped bass, tuna or other edible species, but fiberglass taxidermy makes a lot of sense when it comes to billfish, sharks, barracuda and other fish not destined for the table. It should be noted that some taxidermists still offer pure skin mounts and partial reproductions, wherein the tail, fins, teeth and other parts of the original fish are used.

The disadvantage of skin mounts, which now make up a very small percentage of marine replicas, is that the skin can crack, exude oil, and become discolored over time. The same can happen to the natural parts used in partial mounts. Besides, in many cases the skin is painted or highlighted to match the original colors and tones. With the dolphin mentioned above, I chose to have the original tail and fins incorporated into the mount, having filleted the fish and kept the meat.

I did the same a few years later with an pound sailfish, which had a unique curved bill that I wanted to incorporate into the mount. Some taxidermists offer discounted prices for longer fish species.

Obviously, if you want both sides of the fish mounted and painted for pedestal mounts, you must double the price. Over time dust, sunlight and smoke can impact the life of a mount. Skin mounts generally do not last as long as replica mounts because of the fragile nature of the thin skin. Either way, regular maintenance can keep your mount in tip top shape for years to come. Dust regularly with a slightly damp, lint free cloth. Air dusters work well for loose dust and will reduce the risk of damage.

Be careful around the delicate fins. Sometimes it is easier to remove the fish from the wall and lay it on a flat surface. To make the mount last even longer, avoid hanging it where it receives direct sunlight. The damaging UV rays will fade the colors overtime, especially on skin mounts.

Fire place smoke or cigarette smoke will slowly discolor fish mounts as well. Smoke build up cannot be removed by wiping or cleaning the mount. Take it into a professional taxidermist to be stripped and refinished. Fish mount are a great way to share your adventure of a lifetime with friends and family. A fish on the wall means proof of a catch and bragging rights to go with it.

Getting a skin mount from a real fish or a replica mount is a personal choice. They also last longer and in most cases look better too. As avid anglers, Joshua and Kendle spend their days exploring the waters of the Pacific Northwest and aim to teach others the joy of fishing. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.

How is a fish mounted One of these days, you could very well catch the fish of a lifetime. Skin mounts Using actual fish parts for mounting is slowly becoming a thing of the past. Replica mounts If releasing the fish back to the water is your aim, then consider a fiberglass replica instead. Step 1 Take a good picture as soon as possible.

Step 2 You never know when something could go wrong. Step 3 Freeze your fish as soon as possible. Step 4 Even though the fish is now frozen, it can still be damaged by rough handling. Step 5 Now you are ready to take it in to a taxidermist. How much does it cost to mount a fish Getting any animal or fish mounted is not going to be cheap.

How do you clean a wall mounted fish Over time dust, sunlight and smoke can impact the life of a mount. Final thoughts Fish mount are a great way to share your adventure of a lifetime with friends and family. About US As avid anglers, Joshua and Kendle spend their days exploring the waters of the Pacific Northwest and aim to teach others the joy of fishing. You can probably find prices that are higher or lower than the ones quoted above, but these are the commonly charged prices at reputable shops.

You also need to keep in mind that many taxidermists have a minimum charge. Coldwater and saltwater fish are generally more expensive to stuff than warmwater fish, since their skin tends to be more oily, and requires a longer drying process to finish.

Warmwater fish basically include all freshwater game fish, except for salmonid species such as trout, salmon and char, which belong to coldwater fish. See also : Rigging for trout the complete guide. So, with this method you get an actual physical part of the fish that you caught included in the stuffed version. This means you just need to provide the correct measurement details of your fish for this method, but not the actual carcass.

You may object that a replica has very little to do with the original fish you caught, but keep in mind that even skin taxidermy is built around a plastic mold, followed by spray painting with artificial colors to replace the natural colors that bleach out during the drying process. When you look at the work of really good taxidermists, the results of both types of fish taxidermy look astonishingly similar.

So it really comes down to your personal preference when you decide which one to choose. While a good skin mount may have more sentimental value, since it includes an actual part of the trophy fish you caught, preserving and transporting fish correctly for this process is much more complicated than getting a replica.