Age of Fish

How can you determine the age of a caught fish?
You can do it by examining its scales. As soon as a fish hatches from its egg, it has the beginnings of all its scales, and the number of scales increases throughout its life. However, as the fish grows, so does its scale.

During the summer months, fish feed well, and each scale develops a light band of larger cells. In winter, fish retreat to deep holes and pools, entering a state of lethargy and not feeding at all. This results in a dark band of smaller cells forming along the edges of the scales, which continue to grow throughout the fish’s life.

By simply counting the light bands on a scale, you can determine how many years the fish has lived.