Gyotaku Fish Printing Supplies: The Complete Guide for Anglers
If you've ever wanted to preserve the memory of a great catch without the cost or hassle of traditional taxidermy, gyotaku fish printing is the answer. This ancient Japanese technique creates a stunning, true-to-size print of your fish using a set of supplies — and with a modern gyotaku fish printing kit, the whole process takes under 10 minutes. In this guide we break down exactly what gyotaku fish printing supplies you need, how they work, and how to get the best print every time.
What Is Gyotaku Fish Printing?
Gyotaku (pronounced gyo-TAH-koo) is a Japanese fish printing tradition dating back to the 1800s. Fishermen would ink their catch and press it onto washi paper to document their fish — size, species, every detail captured perfectly. Today, modern gyotaku fish printing kits have replaced fragile rice paper and toxic sumi ink with durable cloth and food-safe cuttlefish ink, making it accessible to any angler.
Gyotaku Fish Printing Supplies You Need
Fishin' Prints complete gyotaku fish printing kit includes everything below. Here's what each supply does:
Cloth Sheets — Traditional gyotaku used rice paper, but cloth produces a far more durable, display-worthy print. Our kits include 36x18" cloth sheets (Standard Pack) or 60x36" sheets (Pelagic Pack) — large enough for inshore, freshwater, and offshore species.
Cuttlefish Ink — Another ingredient that makes Fishin' Prints unique when it comes to gyotaku fish printing. Cuttlefish ink is 100% food-safe — it's the same ingredient used in squid ink pasta. That means you can ink your fish, press your print, then fillet and eat your catch. No other taxidermy alternative lets you do that.
Brush — Used to apply ink evenly across the fish before pressing. Even coverage is the key to a clean, detailed print.
Shop Rags — Used to Blot the fish and create a light splotchy texture over the fish and work the ink into the scales to pick up every detail
Gloves — Keep your hands clean during the inking process. A small detail that makes a big difference.
Ink Dish — For pouring and controlling the cuttlefish ink during application.
How to Do Gyotaku Fish Printing Step by Step
- Lay your fish on a flat surface and pat dry and remove fish slime
- Pour cuttlefish ink into the dish dilute and dip the brush
- Apply ink evenly across one side of the fish — fins, tail, every surface
- Blot the ink to remove excess and work into scales
- Lay the cloth sheet over the fish and press lightly with both hands
- Peel back slowly to reveal your print
- Let dry in the sun for 5 minutes
Total time: 10 minutes. No experience needed.
Tips for the Best Gyotaku Fish Print
Dry the fish thoroughly before inking — fish slime causes the ink to bead and miss detail. Use thin, even coats of ink rather than one heavy coat. Press from the center outward to avoid wrinkles. Larger fish need more ink — don't be afraid to reapply to fins and tail. Sun dry flat — hanging while wet can cause the print to warp.
Why Cloth Beats Paper for Gyotaku Fish Printing
Most gyotaku supplies kits on the market still use rice paper. Paper tears easily, fades over time, and can't be washed. Cloth holds the print permanently, stands up to display, and gives you a textile you can frame, hang, or gift. It's the same reason professional gyotaku artists switched to fabric decades ago.
Our Cloth: Built Specifically for Gyotaku Fish Printing
Not all cloth works for gyotaku. Most fabrics either absorb too much ink and lose detail, repel ink entirely, or stretch when pressed — ruining the print. We learned this the hard way. Before launching Fishin' Prints, we tested over 70 different cloth combinations — different weaves, weights, blends, and treatments — pressing fish after fish until we made one that performs perfectly every time. The cloth in every Fishin' Prints kit is the result of that process. It's not off-the-shelf fabric. It's a material we developed specifically for gyotaku fish printing.
What that means for your print: Ink absorbs evenly with no blotchy patches or missed spots. Detail transfers cleanly — scales, fins, and texture all come through. Holds the print permanently and won't fade or bleed over time. Tough enough to display — frame it, hang it, gift it. No other gyotaku fish printing kit on the market uses cloth developed through this kind of testing process. When you buy a Fishin' Prints kit, the supplies aren't an afterthought — they're the product.
The Affordable Taxidermy Alternative
Traditional fish taxidermy costs $600–$1,800 (even more depending on the size), takes 8–20 weeks, and requires a dead fish. A gyotaku fish printing kit costs under $75, takes 10 minutes, and works for catch-and-release — your fish swims away after. For anglers who want to remember every catch without the cost or the wait, it's the obvious choice.
Shop Fishin' Prints gyotaku fish printing kits and supplies — Standard Pack or Pelagic Pack, everything included, free shipping over $80.