Fiberglass Fish
The technology to make fiberglass fish replicas has revolutionized the fish taxidermy industry. There is no longer any need for the actual fish to create the coveted trophy. This has played an important role in getting anglers to accept and even appreciate catch and release fishing. When catch and release was first starting to be introduced, a lot of sport fishers were negative since it made it impossible for the angler to get a memento of his or her trophy catch. Fiberglass fish replicas changed this. With the possibility to still get trophies, sport fishers begun to accept catch and release fishing. As time went by, more and more people discovered that catch and release allowed several people to catch the same trophy fish and that the system promoted more frequent and larger catches. The developments made in the production fiberglass fish replicas was of course only one of the factors that helped pave the way for a wider acceptance of catch and release, but it is certainly a factor that shouldn't be overlooked.
A fiberglass fish is made in a mold. Normally, they are created in ready-made molds designed to fit a fish of a certain species and size. It is however also possible to get a fiberglass fish done in a custom made mold, to get the replica to look as much as possible like your specific catch. This is more expensive than getting a off the shelf replica. Which is to be preferred depends largely on your preferences and budget.
Once the fiberglass fish is taken out of the mold, the artist work on it to remove any imperfections in order to provide the fiberglass fish with the perfect shape and lines. When the preparations of the fiberglass fish is done, it is painted to look as much like your fish as possible. It is not uncommon to have one person make the fiberglass fish body and another person painting it - two different people devoted to perfecting their own part of the craft.
Each fiberglass fish is a piece of art and the skill of the taxidermist and the painter will really effect the quality of the result. A well made fiberglass fish will look more life like than a skin mount does. Fiberglass fish made by less skilled fish taxidermists can on the other hand look rather poor and be more like a plastic toy than a trophy replica. The single most important part for the end result is the painting. Each species put different demands on the artist and most artists make a certain type of fish better than others. It is therefore always recommendable that you choose to get your fiberglass fish from a taxidermist who can show good sample work for the specific species. Remember, a taxidermist who makes the best trout mounts in the world might still make a really poor sail-fins.
An artist that is skilled in producing a certain type of fiberglass fish knows how to use paint to create a life like fish with a realistic luster without making it too colorful or too dull. Common errors commited by less experienced painters include making the basic tone of the fish too dull, causing the finished project to look plastic, and not paying enough attention to details, e.g. allowing a dotted area on a fish to receive a solid hue. The eyes and the mouth are also common problem areas. It is not unusual for an unskilled painter to give the mouth an overly dominant color. This can be good for dramatic effect, but it will also give you a less realistic fiberglass replica fish. It is good to keep an eye open for all of these problems when looking at earlier work before choosing a fish taxidermist. Any and all of these problems might indicate a less experienced taxidermist that has not mastered their craft yet. Fiberglass fish are never cheap and it is worth the extra bucks to make sure you get as close to perfection as possible.
To sum up: When choosing a fish replica specialist or fish taxidermist, make sure that the person does a good job with the particular species you want a fish replica of, and that his or her work do not show any of the common signs of a less skilled artist. Do the research needed to make sure you receive an excellent and long-lasting fiberglass fish replica.