Great Northwest Fish Taxidermy

Taxidermist in Tacoma, Washington

(253) 227-05535116 180th St E, Tacoma, WA 98446View on Yelp

About Great Northwest Fish Taxidermy

Great Northwest Fish Taxidermy is based in Tacoma, Washington, a city with direct access to some of the most productive salmon and bottomfish waters in the Pacific Northwest. With Commencement Bay at its doorstep and the South Sound's saltwater fisheries minutes away, Tacoma is a natural home base for a fish-focused taxidermy studio. The name signals a clear specialty, and anglers from across Pierce County and the greater South Puget Sound region bring their trophy catches here. Whether it's a Chinook from the Nisqually delta or a halibut from the Strait of Juan de Fuca, this studio handles the fish that matter most to local anglers.

Services

Taxidermy

Services & Process

Fish skin mounts preserve the actual scales and coloring of your catch, stretched over a custom foam form shaped to match the fish's natural body contour. Reproduction mounts use fiberglass blanks painted by hand to replicate your fish from measurements and photos, making them ideal for catch-and-release fishing where the fish goes back in the water. Both options are available for saltwater species like salmon, rockfish, and halibut as well as freshwater catches like trout and bass from the lakes around Tacoma. Finishing work includes detailed airbrush painting to restore or enhance natural color patterns that fade during the mounting process.

Service Area

Great Northwest Fish Taxidermy serves Tacoma and the surrounding South Puget Sound region, including Puyallup, Lakewood, Federal Way, and Gig Harbor. Anglers from as far as Olympia and the Key Peninsula make the drive given the studio's focus on Pacific Northwest fish species.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best way to preserve a fish before bringing it in?
Keep the fish moist and on ice without submerging it in water, which can damage the scales. Wrap it in a wet cloth or plastic bag and freeze it if you can't get it to the studio within a day or two. Take several photos immediately after the catch to capture the natural coloring.
Should I choose a skin mount or a reproduction for my salmon?
Both produce beautiful results, but reproductions are increasingly popular because they don't rely on the condition of the original hide and the colors can be made more vivid and lasting. If you plan to release the fish, a reproduction built from measurements and photos is your only option.
How long does a salmon or halibut mount take to complete?
Most fish mounts take three to six months from drop-off to pickup, though studios with high volume during salmon season may run longer. It's always worth asking for a current estimate when you call to drop off your catch.
Can you mount a fish caught in Puget Sound's salt water?
Saltwater fish mounts are a core part of what Pacific Northwest studios handle, covering species like Chinook salmon, coho, rockfish, lingcod, and halibut. Saltwater fish can have more delicate scale patterns than freshwater species, so getting them to the studio in good condition matters a lot.
What size fish is worth mounting?
That's really a personal decision based on the significance of the catch rather than just the measurement. A smaller fish that represents a personal best, a first catch, or a memorable trip can be just as worth mounting as a record-class fish.
Do you offer wall plaques or backing boards with the fish mount?
Most fish taxidermists offer a range of backing board options, from simple stained wood to habitat-style displays with painted backgrounds. Discussing this at drop-off helps the studio plan the overall presentation to match your space and style preferences.

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