08/19/2026
Did you know that a lot of modern fish taxidermy isn’t actually the original fish?
Fish taxidermy is a little different from most other forms of taxidermy.
Today, many trophy fish mounts are replicas, particularly when anglers practise catch and release.
Instead of keeping the fish, measurements and photographs can be taken before it is released. A replica is then created to match the fish’s size, shape, markings and colouration — allowing the angler to keep the memory while the actual fish goes back into the water.
Traditional fish taxidermy, however, uses the actual skin of the fish. The skin is carefully preserved and mounted over a form, while parts that don’t preserve well — particularly the eyes — are recreated. Colour is also incredibly important because much of a fish’s brilliant colouration changes or disappears after death, meaning the taxidermist has to bring those colours back during the finishing process.
Older museum fish mounts like this one are wonderful examples of how fish taxidermy has been done over the years.
This specimen belongs to the shíshálh Nation tems swiya Museum in Sechelt, British Columbia, and we’ve had the privilege of restoring it so it can return to their collection.
Worked by the talented 🍄 n a t 🍄
Old taxidermy is part specimen, part sculpture and part historical record — which is exactly why we love restoring it.
🐟 Would you have guessed that many of the fish mounts you see today are replicas?
MuseumCollection
