Camping and fishing go hand in hand for so many people. A dream come true is an outdoor camping getaway that combines the tranquility of a mist-shrouded lake at sunrise with succulent and crisped fish fillets fresh from the grill.
Nothing beats the feeling of catching your dinner and cooking it over a well-built campfire. For some, it does not matter how long they have to wait to catch the fish, the image of a hot, freshly cooked, and savory fish is what keeps them stuck to their seat.
In order to find the best campsites that are suitable for fishing, you can ask for recommendations from your friends or search on the local websites. When you have decided on the perfect place to go fishing, make sure you will be able to find a spot near the water. Some campsites might be a popular place among the community, so you might want to consider reserving the area.
Camping next to a fish-filled river or lake allows you to have the first-hand experience of catching your meal right out of the water. Not only that, but it also gives you the chance to learn how to cook with the most minimal equipment yet taste just as perfect as a home-cooked meal.
If you have ever tasted freshly cooked fish at the campsite, you probably know that the first bite is unrivaled. There are different types of fish that are commonly caught during fishing. To name some, bass, largemouth, smallmouth, salmon, and spotted bass. Despite the fact that they are very popular to catch, cooking them is considered a “fine art” that not everyone acquires.
For some people, the thought of cooking at a campsite could be daunting especially when you are less prepared and have no experience. But with the right guidelines, you will surely enjoy cooking a great meal. Keep reading to learn some pointers on the tricks and tips to cook at the campsite, from cleaning a fish to cooking it.
How to Clean a Fish
Although many campgrounds provide fish cleaning stations, this amenity is not available in all rural areas. Some tools that you might want to consider bringing are a scaling tool, fillet knife, and buckets to discard any unwanted parts.
These are the simple steps that you can follow to clean your fish before cooking it:
Step 1: Scale the Fish
With a scaling tool, apply short, raking motions from the direction of the tail to the head. Repeat this on both sides of the fish. After you are sure that the scales are completely removed, rinse the fish with clean water.
Step 2: Clean Out the Fish
Insert the knife on the belly of the fish near the head and slide the knife down towards the tail. Using your fingers, remove the entrails of the fish. Remove the liver, intestines, and all internal organs. When you are done, thoroughly clean the inside of the fish, washing out any remaining blood.
How to Cook a Fish
When it comes to serving up your catch of the day, there is no one specific way for you to cook your meal. There are several delicious and simple ways to cook fresh fish over an open fire. From frying it using a pan, directly placing it on the hot coals, or simply boiling the fish.
Here are a few different ways to cook fresh fish over a campfire:
Using a Pan
Pan-frying is one of the most common ways to cook fish over a campfire. With the right cookware, you will get to enjoy an old-fashioned fish fry. Moreover, the freshly caught fish will make it even more satisfying for you to savor.
Remember that you cannot turn off the flame, so controlling the heat is critical to prevent your fish from burning. Pan-frying works best with small, low fires or fresh, hot embers. When pan-frying a fish, you can use butter or cooking oil to ensure that the fish will not stick to the pan.
Another tip to note is that not all cooking oils are suitable for pan-frying fish. Safflower, peanut, and corn oil are excellent vegetable oil choices because they heat quickly and evenly. If you want to keep things a little healthier, olive oil is also a good option.
Using a Stick
The fish-on-a-stick method is one of the most primitive ways to cook whole, fresh fish over a campfire. It requires the least amount of preparation and even fewer materials. You have to clean the fish properly and leave the skin to ensure that the meat will be protected.
Once the fish is cleaned, insert a long, sturdy, and sharpened stick into the mouth, then poke it into its flesh. Remember to leave some space so that you can handle the stick easily. To stabilize the fish, you can also insert smaller sticks sideways by the upper or lower part of the belly.
A crucial key fact for you to remember when cooking a fish over the campfire is that there should be no fire. What you can do is to wait till the fire has died down, and only the hot embers are left burning in the fire pit to cook the fish to the smoky delicious flavor. The freshness of the fish will make it an ultimate pleasure for you.
Grilling
At the campsite, nothing beats delicate, crispy grilled fish. Grilling fish is another method often preferred because it is similar to using a pan. You can either do it over a campfire or the charcoal grill. To protect the fish from direct flame, consider using aluminum foil to wrap the fish.
After you are done prepping the fish with the ingredients and seasoning that you like, simply wrap the fish using heavy-duty aluminum foil. Put a grill rack over the fire and just place the wrapped fish over it. Be sure to check and turn the fish every 5 minutes to make sure that both sides are prop
