Fish Taxidermy is the art of mounting a fish for display. Many people intrigue the fancy of their guests by showcasing their trophy fish on the mount. If you want to decorate your house with a mounted fish having a realistic effect, this blog will discuss how much it costs to mount a fish.
Fish skin mounting is a work of art; the price of mounting a fish depends on the taxidermist and the species. Typically, the costs for mounting fish are per inch and varies from $10 to $20. For example, to mount a fish of ten inches would cost around $150 on average.
Mounting a fish is a remarkable way of paying tribute to your best catch; it needs to be hung on the wall like a trophy. Therefore it’s essential to have your fish mounted by a skilled taxidermist. There are many taxidermy shops in the United States; getting a high quality and well-preserved end product is crucial. Therefore, knowing the price range is one thing; apprehending the details is another.
How Much Does It Cost to Mount a Fish?
Catching a beautiful fish is an outstanding achievement and can be very exciting for any person (also for a non-fisherman or woman) who caught the fish while on a fishing trip. No wonder that people want to display or mount their catch with pride or out of their love for fish. Even though taxidermy can be DIY (Do It Yourself), it is best left in a professional’s hands to achieve the best results. If you choose a taxidermist for mounting, three primary variants determine the costs to mount a fish:
- Size
- Species
- Taxidermist
Size:
To determine how much it cost to mount a fish, size does matter. Fish taxidermy is usually charged per inch; eventually, it will cost a lot more for a large fish than a medium-sized fish. The standard price of mounting a fish is somewhere between $10 and $20 per inch. For example, if you want your catch of forty inches skinned, mounted, dried, and painted, it will cost, i.e., $400 to $800, depending on the cost per inch.
Species:
The fish species is a significant determinant of the cost to mount a fish. It could be delicate to skin a fish without hurting the outer skin. Therefore, the price is different for every species (we have a table of the average cost per inch for notable species included in this article, please find it in the below heading). The whole process of turning a captured fish into a well-decorated wall mount depends on the fish type. For instance, there could be a difference of $3 per inch for a Bass or a Trout. Mounting a Tarpon and Billfish could cost even more.
Taxidermist:
Another price variant is the taxidermist. Choosing one could be a lot like finding an architect for your house. If you do not have a recommendation from some of your friends, the best method of selecting a qualified taxidermist is by going through their samples. If you find their work to be high quality and lifelike, you can opt for him or her. If you want to mount a fish on a budget, you should not look for a high-end taxidermist but a reliable one. However, it would be best if you never compromised on quality. A disappointing result from a cheap taxidermist might end up in the waste bin than on your wall.
Cost of Fish Mount by Species:
| Fish Species | Average Cost (Per Inch) |
| Trout | $16 |
| Bass (Largemouth & Smallmouth) | $13 |
| Striped Bass | $17.50 |
| Walleye | $13 |
| Pike | $13 |
| Crappie | $15 |
| Salmon | $16 |
| Shark | $19 |
| Marlin | $12 |
| Billfish | $17.50 |
| Swordfish | $14 |
| Tuna | $12 |
| Tarpon | $17.50 |
| Redfish | $14 |
What to Do if You Want to Mount a Fish?
Once you have reeled in a fish, and it is eye-catching (huge, beautiful, or both), you imagine it on your wall. You picture your friends, on a barbecue night at your home, praising your catch. If that is the case, you should take the following steps to mount this fish you just caught.
Here is a list:
1. Take many photos of your fish from all angles.
2. Pick a “display-side” (the one you want to be showcased against the wall).
3. Use a moist towel, and wrap the fish in it.
4. Now, place the toweled fish in a plastic bag.
5. Put this bag into a freezer (make sure the “display-side” is faced up).
6. It is best to keep the fish frozen for two days (keep it placed on a flat surface).
7. It is also recommended to wet the fish with a spray bottle so that outer scales are not skimmed.
8. Start looking for the right taxidermist (if you do not have a regular one already).
9. Choose a courier service that deals with frozen goods.
10. Send the package to the taxidermist.
What Does a Taxidermist Need to Mount a Fish?
A professional fish stuffer makes the fish live a little longer (before perishing for eternity). However, a taxidermist needs many specific materials and tools to mount a fish and make it look appealing and realistic. Let us kick off our list of taxidermy tools:
1. A mold
Taxidermists use a mold to create a replica of the fish after receiving it from a client. Once the mold is split open, the fish is placed back in the frozen container. The mold will now have an ideal impression of the fish’s size and skin patterns.
2. Styrofoam mannequin
The peeled skin is usually applied to a rigid foam animal form known as a styrofoam mannequin.
3. Preservatives
After peeling, the fish skin perishes quite quickly; therefore, treatment of preservatives is essential.
4. Formaldehyde
It is a colorless gas, which is sometimes injected into the head. Also, the skin is brushed carefully with Formaldehyde.
5. A Paint job
Fish skin mount is painted to make it look perfect. The paint is mostly translucent and applied with an airbrush.
6. Glass eyes
A taxidermist has a wide range of glass eyes specific to particular species.
How Long Does It Take to Taxidermy a Fish?
Taxidermy depends on two major factors:
- The backlog at the taxidermist shop.
- The delicacy of the species or the amount of work the fish needs.
Mounting a fish is a work of precision and skillful craft. Although everyone wants their trophy fish to be mounted on their wall as quickly as possible, one should not compromise quality over turnaround time.
If you want to avoid any backlog or delay, you might pay extra costs for the expedited service so that the taxidermist can move your project up in the queue. The average length to taxidermy a fish takes as little as two months to a year.
When a taxidermist tries to finish the job before the perceived timeline, it may result in the fish leaking oils and ruining the paint job. One should allow the taxidermist to take as long as it takes to deliver the final product in the best possible condition.
Can You Get a Fish Mount from a Picture?
It would help if you photographed your catch to capture the fish’s lifelike colors as early as possible. One should cover all angles with many photos. It is essential to provide the right information to the taxidermist so that your fish skin mount looks as real as it should. Although taking photographs is recommended for skin taxidermy, it is crucial for a Replica Creation.
A Replica Creation looks like the fish you’ve caught but essentially is a realistic, artificial copy of your fish. If you want to have a Replica Creation made of your fish, you’ll need to provide the taxidermist with the exact measurements and lots of good quality photographs of your fish.
Besides measuring the length and girth, weighing the fish to get a good replica result is also suggested. Having a tape measure on hand is an excellent idea while fishing. Many in modern society prefer getting a fish mount from a picture as it allows the fish to swim back into the water.
Final Thoughts: How Much Does It Cost to Mount a Fish?
Fish Taxidermy is a way of acknowledging your catch and keeping it as a trophy, whether it is a replica or skin taxidermy of your ideal fish. A professional can make your fantastic catch look alive for around $15 per inch. It is not a hefty price to pay for a high-quality fish skin mount on your wall.
