FISHING HOW-TO: Taking Fishing Photographs

By Peter J. Park

Taking a great photograph of you with your trophy fish isn't always easy. Below is a list of Fishing Photo Do's and Do Not's to keep in mind when snapping that epic photo of your catch. Please note that this entry is intended only to be suggestive and not a mandate. :)

1. Always be alert. Distraction can lead to unintended injury to the fish, injury to yourself, or damage to fishing equipment.

2. Take a photo of a fish that is alive. A living fish will always display its most vibrant, natural colors.  

3. Plan your pose and work quickly. Think through how the fish will look best in the photo before handling it (in the meanwhile, leave the fish in the water). Plan out where you will stand and how the background landscape will look in the photograph (but, be careful not to give away the location of your cherished secret fishing spot).  Again, be efficient - the less time a fish is kept out of water, the better it will be able to breathe and re-energize itself when returned to the water.

4. Know the toothiness of your fish. Fish without sharp teeth, such as largemouth bass or striped bass, can be "lipped" (held with your thumb positioned inside the lower jaw). When lipping, always be careful not to overextend the jaw. 

Largemouth Bass have sandpaper-like teeth. You can lip them but be careful not to overextend the jaw!

Fish that do have sharp teeth, such as walleye or bluefish, cannot be lipped. However, they can be held by their operculum (or "gill plate"); if you plan to hold the operculum, NEVER wrap your fingers around any gill arches because that could damage the gill filaments, which are organs needed for the animal to breathe.

Bluefish have sharp teeth. Never lip them!

A small fish (< 5lbs) can safely be supported with one hand. Larger fish can easily be supported with two hands - one hand supporting the head and the other supporting the belly.

5. Hook or no hook? If your fish still has the hook in it's mouth, think about whether you want it in the photograph. For example, if you caught the fish with a lure, it's always nice to have the lure positioned so that it can be clearly seen in the photograph. Other anglers may appreciate that you shared what you used to catch the fish.

6. A side (lateral) profile of your fish is usually the most informative type of fishing photo. Generally, avoid photographing the fish's top (back or dorsal) surface because that makes it tough to correctly identify the species or approximate fish size. If you have an energetic fish on your hands, you may want to take a series of rapid consecutive pictures to ensure that you get at least one photo with the full side profile displayed; the last thing you want is a photo of a fish all curled up.

That said, still don't be afraid to experiment. Sometimes, alternative fish angles offer unexpected dynamic photo-ops.

 

7. Make the photo about the fish first (and you next). A great fishing photo attracts a viewer's attention to the fish before the angler.

 

8. Candid pictures are a plus. Whenever possible, try to capture moments. For example, capturing a photo of an angler proudly looking at the fish (and not the camera) can be pretty eye-catching.

9. And, don't forget to smile!

  10. Finally, consider releasing your prized catch!

More experienced fish photographers may appreciate the following article: http://www.sportfishingmag.com/gallery/photo-galleries/2014/06/improve-your-fishing-photography-tips-10-pros?src=SOC&dom=fb

 

The Nyack College Fishing Club would love to see your fishing photos!! Please feel free to share them here or on our Facebook Page!