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From: Koenigs <gyst_at_cox.net>
subject: [Paddlewise] fish on a stick
Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2002 13:43:44 -0500
Plans are proceeding apace for a months long paddle trip about the Gulf of
Mexico and fish may contribute hugely to the energy requirements. I'm not
thrilled about eating them raw and am reluctant to drag them around for hours
until it's convenient to make a protracted cooking stop. It would be nice to
bring freshly caught fish to shore, build a fire and have something like "fish
on a stick" to eat. A fire would not have to burn down to mature coals and
utensils would not have to be washed or packed greasy.  We'd get weightlessly
packed calories and protein and fine fatty acids to keep  inflammation at bay.

Anyone knowledgeable about such doings?


Larry Koenig


www.lacostadelgolfo.com





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From: Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_rogers.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] fish on a stick
Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2002 18:32:44 -0400
From: "Koenigs" <gyst_at_cox.net>

> It would be nice to
> bring freshly caught fish to shore, build a fire and have something like "fish
> on a stick" to eat. 

At our kayak club's Spring Rendezvous, one of the participants (an outfitter)
provided freshly smoked salmon for the pot-luck dinner.  He made a fire right
near the eating area and did the fish on a stick.

He used a technique he said was traditional amoung the local first nations. 

He took a long stick about 1 inch diameter and split it lengthwise.  He took 
several shorter, smaller-diameter (1/4-3/8 in) sticks and split them lengthwise 
as well (all this wood was green). The fish was gutted, head and tail removed, 
and spread flat (skin on).  The fish was then sandwiched between the shorter 
half-sticks, perpendicular to the spine (these sticks were about 2.5 - 3 
inches apart).  The stick halves were tied back together with copper wire 
at the ends close to the fish's body.  The longer stick was the also sandwiched 
around the fish and the smaller sticks, this time parallel to the spine and 
similarly tied off.  This created a grill of light wood holding the fish flat.  

He then made a tripod of long sticks with the fishy stick being one leg of 
the tripod.  The fire went in the center and the fish was basted with a 
barbeque sauce.  He spent at least an hour smoking the fish - he had to 
make it hot enough to do the job but keep the fish far enough from the fire 
so that the wood frame didn't burn.

The results were delicious!

For your trip, a more permanent pair of light, flat steel grills might do.
They'd be lighter and smaller than a frying pan and could be put close to 
the fire (cook rather than smoke).  Or you could cheat and buy a fish-
barbeque-cage-thing and figure out how to make the handle fold so it isn't
three feet long!

Mike

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