The Ancient Art of Fish Printing

Gyotaku

Gyotaku (魚拓), meaning "fish rubbing" in Japanese, originated in mid-1800s Japan when fishermen documented their prized catches before photography existed. This traditional method transforms fresh fish into stunning, one-of-a-kind prints that capture every scale, fin ray, and anatomical detail with remarkable accuracy.

Jason practices authentic Gyotaku using genuine pine soot ink (sumi) and handmade Japanese rice paper (washi). Working with fresh specimens, he carefully prepares each fish and applies ink before pressing paper to create a unique impression.

Custom Commissions for Your Catch

Authentic artistry – Each print is a handcrafted original

Environmental respect – Honors the fish through artistic preservation

Species expertise – Accurate anatomical representations from an experienced fisherman

Cultural tradition – Connects modern anglers to centuries of fishing heritage

contact Jason to inquire

A detailed black and white illustration of a fish, likely a bass, with its mouth open, against a plain background, with a Japanese calligraphy stamp and signature in the lower right corner.
Fish print being created by Jason Bero in his studio.
Black and white illustration of fish and seaweed, including one smiling fish on the left and two larger fish on the right
A detailed, realistic black and white sketch of a fish, likely a barracuda, on a large piece of paper on a table, with art supplies like scissors, pens, and pencils nearby.
A black-and-white photo of a fish lying on a surface, with a bottle pouring dark liquid into a decorative bowl nearby.
Close-up of dirty, painted, or ink-stained hands with fingers slightly curled against a blurred background.
Close-up of a person's hand touching a fish print in a black-and-white photo.
A black and white print of a small spotted shark swimming in water.
A detailed illustration of a fish, showing its scales, fins, and open mouth, on a textured background with some handwritten text and a red stamp in the lower right corner.
Jason Bero cleaning a fish on a surface covered with newspapers.
Hands pressing on a fish print design on paper.
Black and white gyotaku fish print by Jason Bero
A black and white charcoal sketch of a bull's head by Jason Bero.
A fish with its mouth open lying next to a bottle of ink pouring into a cup.
Black and white drawing of a horse's face with a landscape background by Jason Bero.