How Much Does it Cost to Mount a Fish?
How much does it cost to mount a fish? The answer might surprise you! In this article, we will break down how long it takes to mount a fish and how much it costs. For example, you can expect to pay anywhere from $10-$20 per inch of fish depending on the type of fish. Lets take a look at how long mounting a typical size trout would take and how much that project would cost so you have an idea before starting your next fishing trip.
Female culturism: marzia prince testosterone propionate do weight loss pills work bodybuilding.Cost to mount your Trophy Fish, broken down
There are ultimately three things that determine your cost to mount a fish, these are:
- Size
- Species
- Taxidermist
Here is a breakdown of the average cost to mount a fish by species.
| Species | Cost per Inch |
|---|---|
| Trout | $16 |
| Bass | $13 |
| Striped Bass | $17.50 |
| Walleye | $13 |
| Pike | $13 |
| Crappie | $15 |
| Salmon | $16 |
| Shark | $19 |
| Marlin | $19 |
| BillFish | 17.50 |
| Sword Fish | $15 |
| Tuna | $12 |
| Tarpon | $17.50 |
| Red Fish | $14 |
Fish size
With fish size you can expect to pay between $10-$20 per inch. This is a good rule of thumb for most fish.
For example, if you have a 12 inch fish, then you could be paying roughly $120-$240 to get that sucker mounted.
This isn’t exact, it can change from taxidermist to taxidermist, but the point is that this can be used as a general rule of thumb.
Fish Species
At first, it seems kind of strange to have a difference in price based on the species.
This is because the fish skin or structure in general differs from species to species, and the ones that cost more are more difficult to process for the taxidermist.
For example if the skin is thinner or bones are more delicate then it will take more time and effort to fix.
Again this varies from taxidermist, but in general larger fish species cost more because they take longer to process through the shop which makes it harder for them to get other orders done on time. So you have a better chance of getting your items back faster if you choose a smaller fish, and one that has a less delicate structure.
Those are the main reasons why prices fluctuate, but then you also have the taxidermist.
This is pretty clear why they fluctuate, prices from one person to the next in the same industry always fluctuate.
Get a few prices around yo to see which one you want to go with.
What is the average cost to mount a fish
This is another common question that many people have. You can expect between $10-$20 per inch of fish.
Keeping this in mind, if you have a fish that is 12 inches long than you can expect to pay roughly $120-$240.
This isn’t exact, but this will give you an idea of how much it might cost and the process involved in getting your catch mounted.
If we take a look at trout as an example:
(Per Inch) $16
For a trout that is 12 inches long, you can expect to pay roughly $160.
This varies based on your taxidermist as well, so get multiple prices and choose the one you want.
Replica Fish Mount Cost
A replica fish mount costs roughly between $50-$400.
For example, you might have a catch that is not legal to mount due to size or species limitations.
So if this is the case you can opt for having your replica fish mounted instead of getting it stuffed. A replica fish mount will cost anywhere from $50-$400 depending on where you go and what type of fish replica you want mounted.
Replica mounts are a great option because it costs less, and they look extremely similar to the real thing!
The $50 is for smaller fish, and the $400 would be for large fish like Marlin or Tuna.
Why mount your fish
Mounting your fish is a great way to preserve your fish and show it off, especially if you have caught something big.
It is just like mounting anything else, if you are proud of it or the fish brings back great memories, or you simply just want to show it off, mounting is a great way to do all of that.
Many people do not know that you can mount your catch, but it is becoming more and more popular in the fishing community.
If you are worried about preservation or cost, then consider doing a replica mount as this is a great option as well.
Typical Species that people get mounted
You can get nearly any species mounted. Most people will mount a trout or a bass, etc.
The most popular species that people get mounted are:
- Bass Fish
- Trout Fish
- Salmon Fish
- Tarpon
There are many more fish that people get mounted, but these three species seem to be the most popular.
Larger species such as a marlin or tuna are popular as well, just know that you are going to pay more for those bigger species.
Saltwater fish can be fun to mount, as they are usually very large. Most fish mounts are smaller though, because most people are mounting trout or bass, but having a quality mounted fish that is a saltwater species can be a great piece to show off to your house guests!
What to do if you want to get a fish mounted
The steps you need to take to make sure your fish is ready to get mounted are :
Take a lot of photos, expescially from angles that you want it mounted
Spray a light water spray on the outside to keep it sightly wet
Wrap the fish in a moist towel
Put the fish in a plastic bag, then put the towel wrapped fish and the bag in a freezer.
Keep the fish frozen until you find a taxidermist
Then you just choose a frozen courier service, or if your taxidermist is local you can just take it in and then you have the taxidermist do their thing and mount the fish.
Make sure you follow that process though, because that will result in the best mount of your fish, and is what the taxidermist needs to do.
When you are on your trip, take photos of the fish so that you have good shots to go back and look at when planning out how long it will be for mount preparation.
Also make sure you follow this process through until its mounted! If not then there is a higher risk of damage or deterioration which can result in a bad mount.
How long does it take to mount a fish
It can take anywhere from a week to two months for your fish to be ready after it is mounted.
Depending on the species and size of the fish, this can vary greatly! The smaller your fish is then typically the sooner you will get it back usually.
For instance if you catch a trout that is 12 inches long then expect around two weeks or so for it to be mounted.
However if you catch an enormous fish like a marlin or something, then expect longer processing times because they are larger and harder to mount!
It can also heavily depend on your taxidermist, how skilled they are, and how booked out they are.
You should expect 2-8 weeks though, and always be sure to ask them how long it will take when you are initially talking to the taxidermist.
How do you mount a fish
You mount a fish by having it preserved in a certain way, and then going through the process of mounting it.
The fish will be prepared by a taxidermist who takes care of all that for you before you even get to pick up your mount!
There are a few ways to actually get it mounted.
You can do a full body mount which is the whole fish just standing on a base.
You can do what’s called “half-mount” where its looking like it would be swimming away from you, but instead of being mounted to look at head on, it has been cut in half vertically and then both sides are displayed.
There are also replica mounts where the taxidermist preserves and mounts a fish replica to look like your real life fish.
So, it depends if you want the actual fish, a replica or just a portion of the fish. Regardless, if you are wanting to do a real mount and not a replica there is a preservation process that takes place, stuffing the fish and creating a structure within the fish.
Then putting the skin over the top of the fish, it is a tough process.
Replica mounts are easier, but can require a lot of attention to detail!
Check out the video below to get an idea of how to do this!
How long do fish skin mounts last?
This can last indefinitely if you continue to re-hydrate the fish. If you don’t re-hydrate it often, then expect 15-20 years depending on the relative humidity for the skin mount to start to wear out.
Skin mounting is a process, and using the skin of a fish for this purpose can take time because it has to be dried out. The taxidermist then either takes a cast from that or they stretch it over foam backing before putting in into their wood mount display case!
Over time though as you expose your replica mounted fish to air and humidity through normal use, it will cause the skin to become loose.
The good thing though is that if you catch another fish of the same species then there are ways around this! For instance for a trout or salmon, if after 20 years your mount starts looking dry and not so nice anymore you can have them take down your mount and bag it in water.
Then they can take the skin mount down, rehydrate it in water and place it back on a new foam backing! This way you don’t have to worry about damage or deterioration over time.
Conclusion
So, how much does it cost to mount a fish? You can expect $10-$20 per inch of fish.
This article covered a lot of related questions regarding fish taxidermy, replica fish mounts, both coldwater fish and warm water fish, as well as replica fish mounts cost.
I hope this has been helpful, and just remember the basic outline of $10-$20 per inch as well as how to preserve the fish!
Have you mounted a fish before? Let me know and show me pictures in the comments!
