Raymond Douglas (artist)

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Raymond Douglas is a marine artist and founder of King Sailfish Mounts, Inc. In the early 1990s, King Sailfish Mounts introduced and began promoting the release mount concept for Atlantic sailfish. [1]

Contents

Career

Douglas' first saltwater fishing experience as a teenager was off the coast of Ft. Lauderdale in "Sailfish Alley" aboard Mike Zuro's 38-foot twin diesel "Nomad". On that day Douglas landed an 8-pound kingfish [2] and was pressured into having it mounted, which turned out to be an unpleasant and unforgettable experience. Many years later, after witnessing the needless killing of two large bull sharks (which were never mounted) on a charter out of Palm Beach, Douglas decided to create a program that would promote the release of trophy game fish for mounting purposes. [3]

Douglas realized that offering replica mounts (release mounts) might be a way to stop wasteful industrial taxidermy practices. At the time, many fishing charter businesses had arrangements with taxidermy outfits which would kick back big commissions to captains and crew, and trophy game fish were being killed annually by the metric ton. [4]

Airbrushing a tarpon mount. Raymond Douglas, Marine Artist.jpg
Airbrushing a tarpon mount.

King Sailfish Mounts was the first company of its kind to exclusively promote the release mount concept. [5] "I'm a Catch-and-Release Guy," remarked Douglas in an interview with Florida Fishing Weekly's Steve Kantner early in his career. Having no background in taxidermy, Douglas bought an airbrush and through trial and error began to learn how to airbrush multiple species of game fish. [6] After hearing of his plans, Shelley Luckenbach of Guy Harvey Inc. invited Douglas to exhibit along with Guy and select others in a private sport fishing room at the 1993 Miami International Boat Show. [7] The release mount concept quickly gained momentum as an alternative to traditional taxidermy. [8]

Over the years Douglas has encouraged anglers to bring in overall length measurements, photos and other information about the released fish, such as the number of spots on a redfish, [9] which are then incorporated into the mount. [6]

On July 1, 2022, after 30 years, Douglas sold King Sailfish Mounts. [10]

Dr. Ellen Peel, president of The Billfish Foundation, had confirmed that "KSM revolutionized the fish taxidermy industry into a conservation platform. [11]

Notable mounts

Though his company has produced replicas of numerous varieties of fish, sailfish remain the top selling mount. Douglas' portfolio of mounts includes a replica of a 13-pound bonefish landed by Andy Mill, Jim Holland, Jr.'s 202.5-pound tarpon (certified as the first tarpon over 200 pounds caught on fly), a replica of Alfred Glassell, Jr.'s 1,560-pound black marlin, a replica of Louis Marron's 1,182-pound world record broadbill swordfish [9] and a replica of a 5-foot coelacanth.

Awards

Raymond and Lisa Douglas "The Winthrop P. Rockefeller Lifetime Achievement Award".jpg
Raymond and Lisa Douglas

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taxidermy</span> Stuffing and mounting dead animals for display

Taxidermy is the art of preserving an animal's body by mounting or stuffing, for the purpose of display or study. Animals are often, but not always, portrayed in a lifelike state. The word taxidermy describes the process of preserving the animal, but the word is also used to describe the end product, which are called taxidermy mounts or referred to simply as "taxidermy".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swordfish</span> Fish which has a long, pointed bill

Swordfish, also known as broadbills in some countries, are large, highly migratory predatory fish characterized by a long, flat, pointed bill. They are a popular sport fish of the billfish category, though elusive. Swordfish are elongated, round-bodied, and lose all teeth and scales by adulthood. These fish are found widely in tropical and temperate parts of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, and can typically be found from near the surface to a depth of 550 m (1,800 ft), and exceptionally up to depths of 2,234 m. They commonly reach 3 m (10 ft) in length, and the maximum reported is 4.55 m in length and 650 kg (1,430 lb) in weight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big-game fishing</span> Offshore sportfishing targeting large fish such as tuna or marlin

Big-game fishing, also known as offshore sportfishing, offshore gamefishing or blue-water fishing, is a form of recreational fishing targeting large game fish, usually on a large body of water such as a sea or ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Recreational fishing</span> Fishing as a hobby

Recreational fishing, also called sport fishing or game fishing, is fishing for leisure, exercise or competition. It can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is professional fishing for profit; or subsistence fishing, which is fishing for survival and livelihood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Game fish</span> Popular fish targeted in recreational fishing

Game fish, sport fish or quarry refer to popular fish species pursued by recreational fishers, and can be freshwater or saltwater fish. Game fish can be eaten after being caught, preserved as taxidermy, or released after capture. Some game fish are also targeted commercially, particularly less bony species such as salmon and tuna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White marlin</span> Species of fish

The white marlin, also known as Atlantic white marlin, marlin, skilligalee, is a species of billfish that lives in the epipelagic zone of the tropical and subtropical Atlantic Ocean. They are found between the latitudes of 45° N and 45° S in waters deeper than 100 m. Even though white marlin are found in bodies of water that are deeper than 100 m they tend to stay near the surface. White marlin have been found near banks, shoals, and canyons, but they are not limited to those locations. They prefer warm surface temperatures greater than 22 °C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlantic blue marlin</span> Species of fish

The Atlantic blue marlin is a species of marlin endemic to the Atlantic Ocean. It is closely related to, and usually considered conspecific with, the Indo-Pacific blue marlin, then simply called blue marlin. Some authorities consider both species distinct.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billfish</span> Group of fishes

The billfish are a group of saltwater predatory fish characterised by prominent pointed bills (rostra), and by their large size; some are longer than 4 m (13 ft). Extant billfish include sailfish and marlin, which make up the family Istiophoridae; and swordfish, sole member of the family Xiphiidae. They are often apex predators which feed on a wide variety of smaller fish, crustaceans and cephalopods. These two families are sometimes classified as belonging to the order Istiophoriformes, a group which originated around 71 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous, with the two families diverging around 15 million years ago in the Late Miocene. However, they are also classified as being closely related to the mackerels and tuna within the suborder Scombroidei of the order Perciformes. However, the 5th edition of the Fishes of the World does recognise the Istiophoriformes as a valid order, albeit including the Sphyraenidae, the barracudas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Striped marlin</span> Species of fish

The striped marlin is a species of marlin found globally in tropical to temperate oceans not far from the surface. It is a desirable commercial and game fish, although conservation measures are in place to restrict its commercial landings. An epipelagic predator, it hunts during the day in the top 100 metres (330 ft) or so of the water column, often near the surface. One of its chief prey is sardines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marlin fishing</span>

Marlin fishing or billfishing is offshore saltwater game fishing targeting several species of fast-swimming pelagic predatory fish with elongated rostrum collectively known as billfish, which include those from the families Istiophoridae and Xiphiidae (swordfish). It is considered by some fishermen to be a pinnacle of big-game fishing, due to the size, speed and power of the billfish and their relative elusiveness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlantic tarpon</span> Species of fish

The Atlantic tarpon is a ray-finned fish that inhabits coastal waters, estuaries, lagoons, and rivers. It is also known as the silver king. It is found in the Atlantic Ocean, typically in tropical and subtropical regions, though it has been reported as far north as Nova Scotia and the Atlantic coast of southern France, and as far south as Argentina. As with all elopiformes, it spawns at sea. Its diet includes small fish and crustaceans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kayak fishing</span> Fishing from a kayak

Kayak fishing is fishing from a kayak. The kayak has long been a means of transportation and a means of accessing fishing grounds. Kayak fishing has gained popularity in recent times.

Tag and release is a form of catch and release fishing in which the angler attaches a tag to the fish, records data such as date, time, place, and type of fish on a standardized postcard, and submits this card to a fisheries agency or conservation organization. Anglers who catch tagged fish report their location, date, and time, as well as the tag number to established points of contact. South Carolina has had such a program since 1974.

This page is a list of fishing topics.

Land-based game fishing is a form of big-game sport fishing in which anglers attempt to catch oceanic game fish from shore rather than from ocean-going boats. The locations for such activities are generally rock platforms, though wharfs, jetties and beaches are also common. Some species such as sharks can be targeted in shallow littoral water, however most other species prefer deeper pelagic water, and this limits the areas where these types can be fished from the shore. Tackle used is usually comparable to that used on boats, but some differences are necessary, such as changes in rod length. Different tackle is used according to location and species targeted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishing industry in the United States</span>

As with other countries, the 200 nautical miles (370 km) exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the coast of the United States gives its fishing industry special fishing rights. It covers 11.4 million square kilometres, which is the second largest zone in the world, exceeding the land area of the United States.

Kite fishing is a fishing technique. It involves a kite from which a drop line hangs, attached to a lure or bait. The kite is flown over the surface of a body of water, and the bait floats near the waterline until taken by a fish. The kite then drops immediately, signaling to the fisherman that the bait has been taken, and the fish can then be hauled in. Kites can provide boatless fishermen access to waters that would otherwise be available only to boats. Similarly, for boat owners, kites provide a way to fish in areas where it is not safe to navigate - such as shallows or coral reef.

Fly Fishers International (FFI) is an international 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Livingston, Montana. It was founded in 1964 and formalized a year later in 1965. FFI is an organized voice for fly fishers around the world; they represent all aspects of fly fishing, which include the art of fly tying, casting, and protection of the natural systems that support healthy fisheries and their habitats. Today, the organization's goals are to ensure the legacy of fly fishing worldwide. They focus on conservation, education and a sense of community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishing in Vanuatu</span>

Fishing is important to the national economy of Vanuatu. It is the main source of income for many in the islands and Vanuatu's biggest export. According to 2009 figures, approximately 77% of households in Vanuatu are involved in fishing activity. According to 2005 figures, Vanuatu caught 151,080 fish in that year, with frozen fish accounted for half of Vanuatu's commodity exports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">S. Kip Farrington</span> American journalist

Selwyn Kip Farrington, Jr. was an American writer and sport fisherman. As a journalist he did much to popularize big game fishing from the 1930s onward, and set a number of records himself. In addition to fishing, he was a noted rail enthusiast. Farrington wrote and published twenty-four books covering such diverse topics as fishing, railroading, and amateur hockey.

References

  1. "Conservation Awards". International Game Fish Association, 30th Annual International Auction & Banquet: 10. 31 January 2014.
  2. Piatt, Sam. "The Kings Came Calling". The Daily Times.
  3. Douglas, Raymond (16 February 2023). "Facebook.com/Raymond Douglas". Facebook .
  4. Whittle, Jon (2023). "The Fish Painter". State of the OCEAN: 44.
  5. DePriest, Bill (August 2009). "The Art of Modern Day Fish Mounts". Pacific Coast Sportfishing.
  6. 1 2 Waters, Steve (30 October 2014). "King Sailfish's mounts save fish, preserve memories". Sun Sentinel. pp. 5c.
  7. Whittle, Jon (2023). "The Fish Painter". State of the OCEAN: 51.
  8. "Conservation Awards". International Game Fish Association 30th International Auction and Banquet: 10. 31 January 2014.
  9. 1 2 Howard, Willie. "Lifelike Images". The Palm Beach Post.
  10. Raymond, Douglas (30 June 2023). "Facebook.com/Raymond Douglas". Facebook .
  11. Peel, Ellen, Dr. (February 2023). "TBF's Most Prestigious Award Winners 2022". Billfish. 1: 8.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. Peel, Ellen, Dr. (2022). "The Winthrop P. Rockefeller Lifetime Achievement Award". Billfish. 1: 8.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. "Conservation Awards". International Game Fish Association, 30th Annual International Auction & Banquet: 10. 31 January 2014.