Mounting Trout Fish Jaws Teeth

[murf]

Over six years ago I read an article in B&B mag about mounting fish jaws, I was really impressed by how they came up so kept the Mag for future reference. As it happens the article was written by Heath from on here.

Years went by and I really didn't catch anything of great note or forgot about it when I did until I was out on the Norval last year and a Punter Simon (also a member of A/F) caught a very nice trout in the last minutes of the last drop for the trip.

http://i362.photobucket.com/albums/oo64/murfgq/Simontroutjaws007Small_zpsf9e56260.jpg

I just had to give these jaws a go so cut them out of the head and gave the head to the Tongan punter on board to cook up into a soup (was bloody beautiful too)

http://i362.photobucket.com/albums/oo64/murfgq/Simontroutjaws009Small_zpsa3f6e900.jpg

so for starters I wrapped up the jaws in foil and put in the pre warmed but turned off hooded BBQ to soften the majority of the flesh, after picking most of the flesh away I then put in very slow simmering water for short periods to soften more flesh but not cook the bones. I used a tooth brush to help clean away the flesh but found as I got them clean a squirt with compressed air got rid of all the little bits stuck in the holes everywhere

I then let them dry for a few weeks (don't know if this is really necessary but I had other things on) before putting them into a mild bleach solution overnight (Heath I have lost the Mag mate so step in please with times and solution ratios haha)

Horse also mentioned about Shellite to get the fats out of the bones so they don't yellow with age so I gave them a good scrubbing up with that too before starting to look at what they would look like on a mount

http://i362.photobucket.com/albums/oo64/murfgq/Simontroutjaws014Small_zps8364c3f2.jpg

http://i362.photobucket.com/albums/oo64/murfgq/Simontroutjaws013Small_zpse92bdaab.jpg

When I took Jarrah Jacks boat down to the Mornington Peninsula for him he had a great piece of old wharf Jarrah pylon that he quickly cut up into the right size for me

http://i362.photobucket.com/albums/oo64/murfgq/Simontroutjaws017Small_zps29417d60.jpg

a bit of JJ woodworking skill and some West system epoxy resin and backing board was complete with a couple of extra shells I picked up at JJ's boat launching beach
http://i362.photobucket.com/albums/oo64/murfgq/Simontroutjaws019Small_zpsf12a89a2.jpg

I used the clear grade Araldite to glue all the bones together so it didn't yellow with time using rubber bands and blue tac to hold in place

a few coats of an artists clear cote protector in a spray can then found a book rack style of rack for them to sit on and Simon is very happy I believe

http://i362.photobucket.com/albums/oo64/murfgq/Simontroutjaws026Small_zps70f3dfaf.jpg
http://i362.photobucket.com/albums/oo64/murfgq/Simontroutjaws028Small_zps8804f4da.jpg
http://i362.photobucket.com/albums/oo64/murfgq/Simontroutjaws025Small_zpsb47dc0c8.jpg

now Horse is going to do a big Green Jobfish and add to this any steps I have missed haha

cheers Murf

[Horse]

Thanks for the post Murf. You are giving me a bit more confidence to have a crack at it. I might start with something a bit smaller just to get the technique right

[Jarrah Jack]

I wondered how that went. Looks great Murf. You went to a lot of mucking around getting all the bits and pieces. You seem to like shopping if I remember rightly.

I've heard that you can put the bones on an ant nest and they will clean it for you but I've never tried it.

Horse...If you want some of that jarrah give me a yell.

[Horse]

Horse...If you want some of that jarrah give me a yell.

Mate a chunk of that would be sweet

[murf]

Horse JJ has some great timber that suits the jaws mickey mouse

mate just start cleaning the Jobbie jaws :)

cheers Murf

[Captain Seaweed]

That looks great Murf, well done it looks really good. I might have a go at it one day...wreck it all....get the poops and call you to make me some....is that ok?

[Jarrah Jack]

Mate a chunk of that would be sweet

PM me the actual dimensions you want and I'll mail it off, no worries.

[Horse]

PM me the actual dimensions you want and I'll mail it off, no worries.
The way I'm procrastinating I will be able to pick it up in Agnes

[murf]

The way I'm procrastinating I will be able to pick it up in Agnes

haha I hear ya there fella

cheers Murf

[marto78]

That looks great Murf. I am going to be checking out all the fish jaws I catch from now on. I reckon a reef jack or spanish mack would look good done up like that.

If you don't mind me making a suggestion I think a little brass plaque with "coral trout" engraved into it, like on a trophy would look great stuck on there somewhere.

[Triple]

If you don't mind me making a suggestion I think a little brass plaque with "coral trout" engraved into it, like on a trophy would look great stuck on there somewhere.

Lotta blokes mounting pig tusks now add a small photo mounted on the board so they can show the actual boar too. Maybe even just print n laminate a copy of the pic of youself holding it and just stick it on the back for when people ask about it

[coopersman]

looks good, will have to give it ago

[murf]

That looks great Murf. I am going to be checking out all the fish jaws I catch from now on. I reckon a reef jack or spanish mack would look good done up like that.

If you don't mind me making a suggestion I think a little brass plaque with "coral trout" engraved into it, like on a trophy would look great stuck on there somewhere.

yes I had thought about a plaque but being on the road when I finished it off I didn't get it done, although Jarrah Jack did suggest a Fidleback furniture brass plaque on it for the timber haha

the amount of people that ask what type of shark it is haha

cheers Murf

[Noelm]

I have done lots of shark jaws over the years, lots of tedious work, but the results can be very rewarding, unfortunately I did them for other people, the only ones I kept myself are just sitting in a cupboard half done.

[Heath]

Murf they look great!!!

I like the idea of the Shellite as some of my jaws now have gone a bit yellow. The Areldite seems to give up after several years. I've had to re-apply the jaw to the backboard. These were painted though, so I don't know if it will be the same laquared.

The jaws come up a treat!!!!

[murf]

Murf they look great!!!

I like the idea of the Shellite as some of my jaws now have gone a bit yellow. The Areldite seems to give up after several years. I've had to re-apply the jaw to the backboard. These were painted though, so I don't know if it will be the same laquared.

The jaws come up a treat!!!!

when I glued the jaws onto the backing board I drilled a 6 to 8mm hole probably 3 to 4mm deep to really make it bond to the board, these were big jaws so a hole size to suit the dob of glue needed was my theory

thanks Heath and everyone for the comments

cheers Murf

[Jarrah Jack]

when I glued the jaws onto the backing board I drilled a 6 to 8mm hole probably 3 to 4mm deep to really make it bond to the board, these were big jaws so a hole size to suit the dob of glue needed was my theory



cheers Murf

He's a smart bloke that Murf, thinks of everything. Never had anyone in the workshop like that before. Rare you would have to say............

[SUPERDAFF]

You're right on the money there Jack, I did it with a set of mako jaws about 10 years ago.

Just elevate the jaws a few inches off the ground in a dry spot, cover with a fine mesh that is secured to the ground (allows the ants in but stops bigger critters like cats from carrying them off).

Three days later, (might have been earlier but that's when I checked properly) they were as clean as a whisker with just a feint sea-salty smell.

Didn't need an ants nest - ants figured it out themselves. But wish I had the other info which Ausfisher provided. Great job Murf. Gotta admit, I didn't pick them as a set of trout jaws - looked too awesome so a plaque as also suggested, with a weight as well, sounds like a treat idea. Great job.

[Dignity]

What a unique presentaion, totally awesome, I got a trout on the weekend but not big enough to mount and as I am trying to get rid of the ants I have I think I will have to use your method when I get a decent one. A mate of mine did try to do a marlin head using ants except the foxes got to it first.

Had a late thought, I do have some old ironbark railway sleepers which I might try as a backing board.

[Nicko_Cairns]

Thanks for that, great post. I'll do up some spanish mack jaws this year sometime and post the results.

[murf]

Thanks for that, great post. I'll do up some spanish mack jaws this year sometime and post the results.

I want to do some decent Spanish and Wahoo jaws too but the way this weather has been I will be lucky to catch any this season never mind a half decent one :(

[Nicko_Cairns]

luckily our spanish season hasn't really started up here in NQ, around Jul-Oct is the best imo for up here, can't wait...


I want to do some decent Spanish and Wahoo jaws too but the way this weather has been I will be lucky to catch any this season never mind a half decent one :(

[kingcray]

hey guys ive taken a real interest in this thread and with my oldest boy being obsessed with shark jaws i have kept a couple small fish to give this a crack.

i have 2 skulls cleand and ready to bleach - 1 snapper and 1 school mack. The ants and maggots have done their job and they now look very cool.
Just wondering what ratios you use if any for the bleach solution and the shellite?

cheers Dean

[murf]

hey guys ive taken a real interest in this thread and with my oldest boy being obsessed with shark jaws i have kept a couple small fish to give this a crack.

i have 2 skulls cleand and ready to bleach - 1 snapper and 1 school mack. The ants and maggots have done their job and they now look very cool.
Just wondering what ratios you use if any for the bleach solution and the shellite?


cheers Dean

I just gave a bit of a soak in the Shelite and cleaned with the wifes toothbrush (old one haha)

as for the bleach solution I went looking for the ratio that Heath said in the mag but couldn't find the mag and my memory is non existent, will see Heath today and ask if he remembers

cheers Murf

[kingcray]

thanks for the ideas murf. I finished the little mack jaw. When the ants ate away at the flesh they also removed the ligaments holding the bones together so ended up with it all in pieces. So kept the 6 main bones, scrubbed with toothbrush and bit of kero they came up nice and smooth just a bit brown in colour. Next the fiddly job of super gluing it together, waiting til dry then left it in bleach / water solution o/night. Check this morning its Started to turn white so ive left it in the bleach for the day. Bit of fun looks pretty cool , gonna do the snapper next

[Jarrah Jack]

my memory is non existent, will see Heath today and ask if he remembers

cheers Murf

Did you remember to ask him.........?

[Nicko_Cairns]

Hi guys,

If I put a set of jaws onto a bullants nest, how long do I have before the jaw will turn yellow? I was thinking a couple days on a nest and they'll be squeaky clean, then a scrub with shellite? Thoughts?

[Nicko_Cairns]

ok answered my own question reading a bit more, sorry! also, what's the bleach ratio anyone?!?!

[murf]

can't remember bleach ratio and have read that it makes the bones brittle or chalky??? not sure

Would peroxide whiten? just asking never looked into it

cheers Murf

[Mattya]

Maybe a brush with some Colgate would whiten them up...

[Nicko_Cairns]

lol nice Matt.


Maybe a brush with some Colgate would whiten them up...

[brenno360]

Hey guys, I was in Airlie Beach on the weekend at the tackle world there, the guy had a bloody awesome FULL coral trout head mounted, the thing looks unreal! wish I had of taken a photo of it, i am really kicking myself I didn't!
Do any of you guys do that sort of thing with the whole head?

Cheers
brenden