The writing is a bit small, but if you zoom you can read it if needed. Pull the scale from the lateral line, as those will give the most accurate aging. Fish from southern climates may be more difficult to age than those from northern climates with distinct reduced growth period(winter). Reading a fish's age via their scale takes practice and is not an exact science. It is not like counting the rings on a tree, more like aging a deer by its tooth wear. It varies by region and even different BOW's.