Preserve the memory of a trophy fish with a customized replica—even when the fish was photographed and released.
A modern fish reproduction can be built from the species, measurements, and photographs of your catch. You normally do not have to surrender the actual fish to preserve the memory.
Mahi-mahi, also called dolphin fish or dorado, can make one of the most colorful and recognizable saltwater fish replicas. Photograph courtesy of Gray Taxidermy.
If you catch a fish you would like to remember, take good photographs and record accurate measurements before the fish is cleaned or released.
A fish-replica company can use that information to create a reproduction representing your catch.
Current prices, deposits, production schedules, customization options, payment terms, and shipping charges must be confirmed when the order is placed.
Captain Troy can help you understand what information to collect, but the final order and financial agreement are between the customer and the fish-mount company.
A fish replica is a reproduction made to represent the species, size, color, and appearance of a particular catch.
It is sometimes called:
The artist does not normally need the actual saltwater fish to create the finished mount.
Instead, the company selects or creates a body matching the fish’s size and species, then finishes and paints it to resemble the original catch.
A replica allows several choices.
If the fish is legal to harvest, you may:
If the fish will be released, you may:
The mount preserves the memory rather than the physical fish.
When a legal trophy fish is released, the angler can still preserve the story through photographs, measurements, and a customized reproduction.
A fish mount can become a permanent reminder of:
Every time someone asks about the mount, the story of that day comes back.
The real value is not simply having a fish on the wall.
It is remembering:
The quality of the information you provide can help the artist reproduce the catch more accurately.
Before the fish is cleaned or released, record:
For most fish, total length is measured from the forward-most part of the mouth to the farthest point of the tail.
Measurement rules used for fishing regulations may differ by species, but a replica company normally wants the actual overall dimensions of the fish.
Record the measurement immediately rather than trying to estimate it later from memory.
Girth is generally measured around the thickest part of the fish’s body.
This measurement can help the artist understand whether the fish was:
Do not delay a necessary release merely to take excessive measurements.
Good photographs can help preserve details that a measurement cannot show.
Try to capture:
Saltwater fish may change color quickly after leaving the water.
Take the photographs as soon as practical while keeping fish handling and release time reasonable.
Whenever practical, include a visible reference such as:
Do not rely only on a photograph of someone holding the fish toward the camera. Perspective can make a fish appear much larger or smaller than its true size.
A reproduction can be made for many offshore and inshore species.
Popular choices include:
The available dimensions and body styles depend on the company and species.
Red snapper can make a beautiful reproduction and are a natural choice for anglers fishing from Orange Beach. Photograph courtesy of Gray Taxidermy.
A reproduction gives an angler the option to preserve the memory without keeping a fish solely because it would make an impressive wall mount.
That fits our fishing philosophy:
Keep the best. Release the rest.
Take what you need, not what you can.
Responsible fishing does not mean every legal fish must be released.
It means thinking about:
Read About Responsible Fishing and Conservation
Large fish often create the most excitement and the strongest desire for a mount.
They may also be mature breeding fish.
When harvest is legal, retaining a qualifying fish is the angler’s lawful choice within the applicable limits.
A replica creates another option:
This is a personal conservation decision, not a criticism of lawful harvest.
A shark does not have to be harvested simply to create a replica. Measurements and photographs can preserve the memory. Photograph courtesy of Gray Taxidermy.
A shark reproduction can normally be ordered without transporting or surrendering the actual shark.
This is especially important because shark:
Never retain a shark merely because someone wants it mounted without first confirming that harvest is legal.
For a modern reproduction, usually not.
The replica company generally works from:
Some specialized orders may require more information.
Ask the company before changing, cleaning, or disposing of anything it specifically requests.
Yes.
Both traditional skin mounts and modern reproductions may be available for freshwater species.
Do not assume every freshwater mount requires surrendering the actual fish.
Ask the taxidermist or reproduction company which method it offers for the species and size involved.
Before ordering, think about where the finished mount will be displayed.
Possible options may include:
The available choices affect the appearance, space required, price, production time, and shipping.
A large fish can require much more wall space than its measured length suggests.
Allow for:
Ask for the expected finished dimensions before approving the order.
There is no single price that applies to every mount.
The final price may depend on:
The price sheet previously displayed on this page was dated 2020.
Contact the mount company for a current written quote before paying a deposit or approving an order.
Before approving an order, ask for written confirmation showing:
This helps prevent misunderstandings after the order is already in production.
A large replica may require special packaging or freight service.
Before ordering, ask:
Do not compare mount prices without comparing shipping and packaging costs as well.
Production times can change with:
Do not rely on an old promise that a replica will be completed in approximately one month.
Ask for the current estimated schedule when the order is placed.
When you catch a memorable fish aboard Distraction Charters, Captain Troy and Sam can help you:
Distraction Charters does not guarantee:
The mount company should provide the final written quote, payment terms, production agreement, and shipping arrangements.
Gray Taxidermy creates customized reproductions for saltwater and freshwater species.
Customers considering an order should contact the company directly for:
Gray Taxidermy phone: 800-452-5501
Visit the Gray Taxidermy Website
The information on this page can help whether the fish was caught:
The essential steps remain the same:
A replica cannot reproduce every detail of the original day.
It can preserve the memory of:
That is what makes a trophy mount meaningful.
Plan a private Orange Beach fishing trip with Captain Troy and Sam. When a memorable fish is caught, we can help you collect the measurements and photographs needed to explore a customized replica.
Call or text Captain Troy at 251-975-8111.
No. A customized reproduction can generally be ordered from the species, measurements, and photographs of a fish that was released.
Usually not. The company generally uses a reproduction body matching the species and dimensions, then customizes its finish and coloration.
Record the total length and, when practical, the girth around the thickest part of the body. Also take clear photographs of the fish.
Yes. When the fish is legally harvested, measurements and photographs can be taken before it is cleaned for the table.
Yes. Modern replicas may be available for freshwater and saltwater species. Ask the company which mounting methods it offers.
The cost depends on species, dimensions, mount style, customization, plaque or habitat options, packaging, shipping, and taxes. Request a current written quote.
This page no longer promises a flat deposit. All deposits, discounts, payment terms, and final prices must be confirmed for the current order.
Production schedules vary. Ask the company for its current estimated completion time when the order is placed.
Do not assume it is included. Ask for packaging, shipping, insurance, residential delivery, and freight charges in writing.
Yes. Captain Troy and Sam can help collect practical information about a memorable fish caught aboard Distraction Charters.
Yes. Measurements and photographs may be used to create a shark reproduction without harvesting the animal solely for a mount.
Every trip departs from Orange Beach Marina, Slip E-12, at 27075 Marina Road in Orange Beach, Alabama.
Distraction Charters
Orange Beach Marina, Slip E-12
27075 Marina Road
Orange Beach, Alabama 36561
Call or text: 251-975-8111
Email: distractioncharters@gmail.com
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