Panissing a fish is extremely satisfying, its a bit of old bushcraft thats fallen into disuse over the years. Ive eaten everything from Trout to Salmon with this method, and it never disappoints! The means to cook with this method are easy to obtain, a straight thumb thick stick double the length of the filet is split 3/4's down its length, and 2 sharpened pinky sized sticks, are woven through the top and bottom of the filet, continuing across the back and poke through the filet's face on the opposite side. The last step of prep is sliding the held open long split stick up the filet's middle, following the path of where the spine was.
At this point the fish resembles a boat's sail. Using roots or other natural cordage, tie the top of the split stick with 2 half hitches or a clove hitch to secure and tighten the panissed fish in place.
Roasting a fish in this manner is very easy, you simply angle the fish toward your fire and its done cooking when its golden brown. Cooking this way is simple, delicious, and adds absolutely no weight to your pack.
...Life becomes a little more enjoyable when little sticks at your camp, comprise your cooking equipment.
The song of the surf, the carpet of sand, the dance of the gulls; the salty coast. Peering at the limitless boardwalk of waves and invincible motion, one begins to know the truth of majesty, of strength, and of mystery. Among the twinkling crests in the moonlight, or the hazy visions of the midday sun, there is more than seen, more than felt, more than known. The heartbeat of the waves pushing and pulling, inhaling and exhaling, greeting and departing, imbuing their ethereal net securing all in its reach. The rhythmic music all move in accord; the brilliant stones, the pale shells, the graceful gulls, the burrowing periwinkles, the skittering crabs, the swaying seaweed, the lumbering lobsters, the shifting sands, the bold fish, and the passionate man. The soft dunes settle the ever-present breeze; the wrinkled rose offers her hips to weary travelers, yet the great whites pass unseen. This is a world of many characters, some overt and quick in the shallows of daylight, others slow and silent leaving vague traces and ravaged eggs in their path. Tread soft or loud here, but know this.. all will see your steps, if out of the harmonic rhythm. -Mitch Mitchell http://nativesurvival.com
