Read between the scales: An introduction to ageing fishes

Most people know that you can count the rings of a tree to estimate its age, but did you know you can do the same with fish? As fish grow, their scales grow bigger in ever-increasing layers. Scales carry a record of the fish's life in concentric rings, which are counted to estimate age. Below, we will dive into the detailed steps of how the Idaho Department of Fish and Game ages fish using scales, including the preparation, interpretation process, and the purpose of aging fish.