WyoGreff

I was just wondering how taxidermists usually mount fish, i have heard that they just buy a mold from the dimensions of the fish and then just paint the rest on, is this right?

coyote caller

All saltwater fish are usually fiberglass repo's. Since they're to oily to mount the conventional way. On warm water species you can skin the fish, then mount it a few different ways, 1. Fill method, Which is usually used on smaller species, like most all pan fish. The skin is filled with a light weight plaster, then sewn up and formed to the position wanted 2. Sack method, which can be use on most fish. You take a outline drawing of the fish, cut this out on paper, then transfer this to an material called musslin, Take the musslin fold in half, then draw out your pattern on the musslin. Sew this closed, leaving the front part opened. Then you stuff this with styrofoam. Force the styrofoam down with a dowel to compress it. Then sew this opening up. Then take around a 1/8 of an inch of fish fill or clay and put this on the skin of your fish. Insert your body, then sew up the seam. Or you can carve your own body from a good dense foam. Or purchase one from the many suppliers.

On coldwater species like salmon, and trout. The head, and sometimes the fins need to be cast. This is especially true on large lake trout, where the fins need to be cast. Since these species have a lot of oil in them which needs to be removed. Then the mounting process is the same as warmwater fish.

After the fish, and fins are dry, you can proceed to painting the fish.

Coyote Caller

Tree climber

CC; pretty much said it all.

the fiberglass forms started in a big way from catch and release on saltwater fish.
Just take a picture and get measurements and "BAM" you got it.