Why do fish taxidermists always create their work with the fish's mouth open?

Question

If you see an underwater photo of any fish, the mouth is closed...unless it is eating. Let's see a mount or two like that.

Answer 1

The majority of mounts I've seen with mouth of fish open be Largemouth bass. Think it may be because of the way they attack a lure annnnd it adds a lot more (piz-zazz) to the mount itself ;)...

Answer 2

From underwater photos it seems fish usually swim with their mouth closed and their first dorsal fin folded down. (The mouth opens momentarily as they breathe, and the dorsal flips up when they make a quick turn.) But somehow those real fish just don't look too exciting to me.

But when fish are feeding, the fin goes up, the mouth opens, and with many fish, the skin color lights up as well. (If you've ever seen the difference between a normal and an excited dorado (dolphinfish), marlin, or tuna, you know what I mean.)

So to get a good looking fish mount, the taxidermist makes the fish look its best (in his opinion). Kind of like someone putting on nice clothes and smiling for a formal portrait.

Answer 3

When you catch a fish it is because the fish is feeding on something and is being aggressive, so the mouth is open. Also the fish when fighting after being hooked, it will have it's mouth open, and the body will twist and turn while trying to escape. Much more interesting to display this way. If not, looks like a dead fish hanging on the wall.

Answer 4

Perhaps it is something to do with the taxidermists always ''creating'' the fish with its mouth open - they
have to do it because the fish, after it is stuffed & mounted,
always looks that way 'cos they cannot help it.

Answer 5

Its possible to get it with its mouth closed, or open however if you don't tell them what you would like they generally will leave it open, its supposed to make it look allot more natural however i agree that fish don't always have their mouth's open, A good taxidermist will solve that problem for you if you have a prize fish.

Answer 6

most anglers want to hang the lure in its mouth