Fish printing, or Gyotaku, originated before the invention of cameras when Japanese anglers would record large or unusual specimens by making inked reproductions of their catch. Both natural history and art museums often have collections of fish prints. Now you can have your students create beautiful fish print or Gyotaku art in the classroom, nature center, or at home. All you need is ink, a brayer, paper, and soft fish printing replicas.

In addition to being fun, fish printing is a perfect way to combine science, art, mathematics, reading, and writing. Students can discuss diversity and anatomy, create beautiful art prints, math ratios measuring fins or counting fin rays, or reading and writing stories or poems about fish. Fish printing can easily be blended into lessons that follow Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) as well as STEAM programs (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) learning.

Did you know that there is an entire society dedicated to promoting many kinds of nature printing, including fish printing? Here is the link to The Nature Printing Society!

Gyotaku fish printing supplies along with other hands-on art printing supplies and resources can be found here.

10 Easy Steps for Creating Beautiful Fish Prints

1. Select a smooth surface to work on that can be wiped off easily or covered with kraft paper or newspaper.

2. Squeeze a small “toothbrush” amount of ink onto a paper or plastic plate.

3. Roll the brayer (roller) in several directions over the ink.

4. Roll the brayer over the fish replica (in all directions, top, bottom, head, tail, etc).

5. Provide even coverage to the entire replica surface, not too thick or thin. You can also hand paint the scales with different colors of ink for multi-color fish prints.

6. Lift the fish replica up and place it on clean paper.

7. Either lay your printing paper over the top of the fish and gently press down or place the printing paper on the tble, turn the fish upside down, and press it down against the paper. Experiment with both techniques to see which works best for you.

8. In either case, do not slide or move the position of the printing paper until you are finished.

9. Gently lift your paper off the fish (or your fish off the paper) and place the print on a clean surface to dry.

10. Clean fish replicas with warm soapy water and set out to dry.

Fish Printing Video [Tutorial]

In this fish printing lesson, an art teacher demonstrates just how to easy it is to create beautiful Gyotaku fish prints. To view this tutorial, simply click on the image below.

3 Easy to Use Fish Printing Kits [Introductory, Freshwater, Saltwater]

For those unsure which fish to select, the following three fish printing kits take out the guesswork and include everything needed to get started with fish printing:

1. Introductory fish printing kit

2. Freshwater fish

3. Saltwater fish

All fish printing kits come with a fish printing booklet that includes discussions on fish printing techniques, fish descriptions, and hands-on activities.

16 Block Printing Inks for Creating Beautiful Fish Printing [Washable]

Printer or block inks produce the best fish prints. This is because they have the perfect “stickiness” characteristics needed to capture the fine detail of scales, fins, and eyes on fish replicas used for fish printing. The best inks to use with students are water-soluble block inks, making cleanup easy with just soap and water. Block fish printing inks are available in a wide range of colors and in both individual and classroom tube sizes.

10 Best Freshwater Fish Printing Replicas [Soft Fish Replicas]

All of the fish species described below have been specifically selected for their fish printing qualities and are available in “soft” form (the best replicas for fish printing are made from soft, flexible material that has the “squishy” feel of a real fish, your basic soft rubber fish but without any latex). Fish replicas that are hard do not produce fish prints that are as realistic looking as those created with soft fish replicas. Soft fish replicas are easily cleaned with warm soapy water.

1. Bluegill

A member of the sunfish family, bluegill can grow to several pounds and reach a length of 9-13 inches. Bluegill feeds on small fish, insects, crustaceans, and worms. They tend to be very territorial, especially during the breeding season. Young bluegill is consumed by bass and other fish, as well as snakes, birds, and mammals. Native throughout North America, this species has been introduced widely throughout the world where it is often used as both a game and food fish. Bluegill fish replicas are available as both young bluegill and adult bluegill.

2. Carp

Found in freshwater environments, carp range in size from inches to giants weighing up to 100 pounds. Omnivorous feeders, they consume plants, algae, snails, worms, insect larvae, shrimp, mussels, and many other organisms. The common goldfish is a carp, as is koi which have been bred and kept as pets for centuries. Records show that carp were farmed for food in Asia as early as 400 B.C. E., and to this day serve as an important source of food in many countries. Carp grow slowly over time and have been known to live for over 100 years. Those found in North America are introduced and considered an invasive species. Carp fish replicas are available as both young carp and adult carp.

3. Drum Fish

Found throughout North America in lakes and rivers, the drum is named from the drumming sound males make with their air bladders and surrounding muscle tissue. This sound often puzzles lake and river divers when they hear it for the first time. Drums can reach up to 25 pounds, with most averaging several pounds. Although thought of as a freshwater fish, drums occasionally move through estuaries into marine environments. Drumfish replicas are available here.

4. Green Sunfish

Green sunfish can grow to over a pound and reach a length of 9-11 inches. Feeding on small fish, insects, crustaceans, and worms, they are very territorial, especially during the breeding season. Young sunfish are consumed by bass and other fish, as well as snakes, birds, and mammals. Green sunfish are native to North America east of the Rocky Mountains and from Canada’s Hudson Bay Basin to the Gulf Coast of the United States and northern Mexico. Sunfish replicas are available here.

5. Largemouth Bass

Members of the sunfish family, largemouth bass are common in freshwater lakes throughout North America. They feed largely on fish, crayfish, and insect larvae, but their aggressive behavior causes them to strike at anything. Largemouth bass has even been known to eat young ducklings. If one includes all gear used to fish for bass, anglers spend more money on largemouth bass fishing every year than all the money spent on golf and tennis combined! Bass fish replicas are available as both young bass and adult bass.

6. Northern Pike

This voracious predator occurs in brackish and freshwater systems in North America. Its alternate name, water wolf, relates to its very aggressive hunting style. When introduced into lakes where it is not native, this fish can exterminate local fish populations, hence recent efforts to prevent unwanted introductions. Pike can reach 3-4 feet and weigh up to 55 pounds. Pike fish replicas are available as both young pike and adult pike.

7. Perch (Lake)

One of the most common species of fish found throughout North America, yellow perch live in freshwater lakes and rivers. They feed on insects, small fish, and crustaceans. Averaging a foot in length and weighing several pounds, they are commonly found in fish markets. Lake perch also serve as an important food source for larger fish. Lake perch replicas are available here.

8. Salmon

Beginning their life in freshwater streams and rivers, salmon migrate to the sea to mature and eventually return to their birthplace to spawn. Known for their voracious appetites, they feed on smaller fish, as well as squid and other invertebrates. Salmon have been used extensively as a food source by humans for thousands of years. Habitat loss (destruction of spawning streams), overharvesting, and interbreeding with hatchery stock have all contributed to the decline of wild salmon populations. Salmon fish replicas are available as both young salmon and adult salmon.

9. Trout

Trout is probably one of the best-known North American freshwater fish. They live in cool, clean streams, although several species live in the ocean and spawn in freshwater environments, like salmon. The largest trout grow to over 50 pounds, and all species are predatory on smaller fish and insects. With the increasing popularity of catch and release trout fishing, many streams once again have large breeding specimens that spawn to help replenish local trout populations. Trout fish replicas are available as both young trout and adult trout.

10. Walleye

Found throughout North America, this species is named for its large glassy eyes which glow at night in the light, much like cat eyes do. The walleye is the largest species of North American perch, reaching a weight of 25 pounds. Prized by anglers, this species is highly aggressive, streamlined, and fast. It makes a beautiful, well-defined print. Walleye fish replicas are available here.

9 Best Saltwater Fish Replicas for Fish Printing [Soft Fish Replicas]

1. Flounder

Found throughout the world’s oceans, flounder are members of the flatfish family that contains over 500 different species. When young, all flatfish swim about in a normal fashion. Later, as they mature, they spend more time on the bottom; eventually, their bodies become asymmetrical. The submerged eye migrates to the exposed side so that both eyes face up on one side of their body! Flounder blend into their surroundings, lying motionless on the sand until a small fish or crustacean comes by. They then move with amazing speed. Flounder are commonly found near the mouths of estuaries where they prey on small fish that move in and out with the tides. Flounder fish replicas are available here.

2. Grouper

With a stout body, grouper are not built for long-distance swimming in open water. Rather, they lie in wait near rocky ledges, their mouth and gills forming a powerful sucking system that pulls prey in from a distance. They swallow their prey whole—the menu includes fish, octopus, crab, and lobster. Grouper fish replicas are available here.

3. Hogfish

Hogfish feed on small fish, shellfish, and crustaceans, and are often found in and around reef environments. Some of the larger varieties are occasionally caught on fish lines, but are generally released since most species are not considered “good eating.” Hogfish replicas are available here.

4. Jack

Members of this group of fish are found in both tropical and temperate water of North America and Mexico. Jacks show diverse morphology, from streamlined, fast-swimming bodies to laterally compressed, slow-moving bodies. This particular replica is of a small yellow jack. Yellow jack is found from New England to Florida and south to the Bahamas, Caribbean Sea, and Brazil. Young jack is sometimes found foraging in sandy shallows near reefs, either as solitary fish or members of a small school. Jackfish replicas are available here.

5. Opaleye Perch

Opaleye is heavy-bodied saltwater perch, olive green or gray-green in color with two light spots at the base of the dorsal fin. Averaging under a foot in length, these fish typically spend their first two years in tidepools before venturing out to subtidal reefs and kelp beds in Pacific waters off California and Mexico. Opaleye feeds on small invertebrates, jellies, and even algae. Opaleye fish replicas are available here.

6. Salmon

Beginning their life in freshwater streams and rivers, salmon migrate to the sea to mature and eventually return to their birthplace to spawn. Known for their voracious appetites, they feed on smaller fish, as well as squid and other invertebrates. Salmon have been used extensively as a food source by humans for thousands of years. Habitat loss (destruction of spawning streams), overharvesting, and interbreeding with hatchery stock have all contributed to the decline of wild salmon populations. Salmon fish replicas are available as both young salmon and adult salmon.

7. Sea Star (Starfish)

Sea stars come in a variety of sizes and shapes—from webbed bat stars to “stringy” brittle stars. Some stars are very small, while others exceed a diameter of several feet. A majority prey on shellfish, such as mussels and oysters whose shells are pried open with the sea star’s suction-like tube feet. The sea star turns its stomach inside out and digests the food from within the shell, absorbing nutrients and then sucking its stomach back inside before moving on to its next meal. The textured surface of this animal makes for a beautiful and bizarre print. Sea Star replicas are available here.

8. Skate

A member of the ray family, skates inhabit shallow to deep bottom waters throughout the world and can reach a length of six feet. Their empty egg cases often wash up on beaches—their shape earning them the nickname of “mermaid’s purse.” Skates are opportunistic feeders, consuming both live and dead fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. In certain countries, they are consumed for food, although they are not fished commercially in North American waters. Skate replicas are available here.

9. Squirrelfish

Named for their large squirrel-like eyes, squirrelfish are ray-finned fish. Multiple sharp, spiny rays appear before their dorsal fins, as well as in their pelvic fins. These brightly colored fish are nocturnal, hiding in crevices during the day and foraging for invertebrates and small fish along reefs during the night. They are found in tropical parts of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, with the greatest species diversity concentrated near reefs in the Indo-Pacific. Squirrelfish replicas are available here.