Gyotaku
Printing your catch seems universally intriguing for people. I started with a store-bought tilapia in ~2004 and have made time mosts years ever since.
For anyone interested, I would say just try it and keep trying. To start, you need is water-based ink like Speedball and printing paper from the mulberry plant (Washi).
The process looks like this:
Wash the protective slime from your fish and dry with paper towels paying particular attend to gill plates and fin joints where excess moisture accumulates.
“Paint” slightly thinned ink on the fish with a broad brush paying attention to the detail you wish to bring forward like fins, head, and tail.
Working from head to tail, tail to head, or top down, apply the rice paper applying very little pressure other than to making contact. Remove the print slowly to avoid tearing and hang to dry with clothes pins.
When first looking at any print, I see the flaws. Something happens in short order, usually the next day. I see an image that is unique and perfect in it own right.
Salmon, lingcod, greenling, rockfish, and flounder are worthy subjects and can be eaten—simply wash off the ink with lots of water and process as usual. I am experimenting with shrimp and eager to try forage fish such as sand lance, herring, and smelt. I am holding a large sheet of paper destined for a halibut of 15lbs to 25lbs I hope to find later this summer.