Review (PDF) Hooked: Pirates, Poaching, And The Perfect Fish
This modern pirate yarn has all the makings of a great true adventure tale and is also an exploration of the ways our culinary tastes have all manner of unintended consequences for the world around us.Hooked is a story about the poaching of the Patagonian toothfish (known to gourmands as Chilean Sea Bass) and is built around the pursuit of the illegal fishing vessel Viarsa by an Australian patrol boat, Southern Supporter, in one of the longest pursuits in maritime history.Author G. Bruce Knecht chronicles how an obscure fish merchant in California "discovered" and renamed the fish, kicking off a worldwide craze for a fish no one had ever heard of - and everyone had to have. And with demand exploding, priates were only too happy to satisfy our taste for Chilean Sea Bass. Knecht - whose previous book The Proving Ground was hailed by Walter Cronkite as "a sailing masterpiece...a tale more thrilling than fiction"―captivates readers by deftly shifting among the story's nail-biting elements: The perilous chase at sea through frenzied winds, punishing waves, and an obstacle course of icebergs; the high-stakes environmental battle and courtroom drama; and the competitive battle among the world's restaurants to serve the perfect, flaky, white-fleshed fish.From the world's most treacherous waters to its most fabulous kitchens, Hooked is at once a thrilling tale and a revelatory popular history that will appeal to a diverse group of readers. Think Kitchen Confidential meets The Hungry Ocean.
Hardcover: 328 pages
Publisher: Rodale Books; First Edition edition (May 2, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1594861102
ISBN-13: 978-1594861109
Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 1 x 9.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #932,057 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #34 in Books > Law > Specialties > Maritime #260 in Books > Science & Math > Nature & Ecology > Endangered Species #350 in Books > Science & Math > Biological Sciences > Biology > Marine Biology
When was the last time you ordered fish at a restaurant? Have you ever wondered how those fish got there? How about Chilean Sea Bass? My wife and I have ordered it dozens of times. Very tasty. One of my favorites. Once you read "Hooked", you might want to reconsider. "Hooked" is an adventure tale of how our oceans are being stripped of fish in unenlightened ways. This book is fascinating reading as fast paced as an adventure novel. I guarantee you'll enjoy it and learn so much about things you never knew about--fish, our oceans, ice, maritime laws. Every person who has ever ordered fish from a restaurant should read it. I highly recommend it.
This is an excellent book detailing an illegal fishing expedition in Australian water resulting in a forced boarding after a lengthy chase to north of South Africa, as well as the resulting trial. But that is not the most interesting story of the book. The author details the discovery of Chilean Sea Bass (bass? what a joke), the marketing angle, and the subsequent ecological tragedy as the sea beds are over fished in 15 years. The author did excellent research and tells this compelling tale while teaching the reader about the fishing industry, legal and illegal, and the current state of our fishing beds. One concern I have about the book is it is somewhat disjointed as he jumps from country to country at one point adding in a story of a fishing company owner living in America who is arrested for importing fish illegally caught. Also, in many respects the trial at the end of the book is very anti-climatic.Overall though, this is a very interesting book where you will learn quite a bit about the fishing industry and problems with our supplies of fish.
Perfect fish? This is the perfect book! Hooked is part pirate chase, part history, part courtroom drama, and part musings on globalization. And it is incredible. Knecht somehow threads disparate stories together to tell a tale about the consequences of an advertising executive's decision to change the name of Patagonian toothfish to Chilean Sea Bass, and the resultant mania it caused. Basically, sophisticated urban diners search for the new, new thing combined with a fish so oily that inexperienced chefs could not over-cook it results in... the worlds longest pirate chase.
HOOKED: PIRATES POACHING AND THE PERFECT FISH promises much for a wide audience, from those interested in fishing to others researching modern-day pirating and the politics of the sea. The explosive world-wide demand for popular fish has all but fostered over-fishing and all but condoned seafood piracy: HOOKED combines culinary history with a world-wide chase to document the fading Chilean Sea Bass, a prehistoric-looking fish with the richness of tuna and the texture of butter. It's hard to place this rich text: part culinary history, part social inquiry, largely environmental exploration - it also fits under 'True Adventure'. Many will find it compelling.Diane C. DonovanCalifornia Bookwatch
Having just returned from a fishing adventure driving all over Canada, Alaska and Prince of Wales Island this book really hit home.The SAD truth is there are too many mouths to be fed and plenty of "pirates" willing to risk life and limb (and jail time) to rape the ocean to bring the fish to market. Incredible true story.Should be required reading in all high schools.
Wonderful adventure and true story. It starts out a bit slow but revs into high gear for an amazing chase. If you cook, eat out and or love fish this book will be a fun and educational read about our oceans and fishing industry.
Even if one doesn't care about the plight of marine species like Chilean Seabass this book makes a great read! It is a thrilling good guy bad guy story taking place in a desolate part of the world. It also very informative and insightful regarding Marine Conservation.
This is a fascinating book. There are two stories. One involves a pursuit on the high seas, the other is the story of the fish itself, from the fishing net to the table.You will be on the edge of your seat.
Hooked: Pirates, Poaching, and the Perfect Fish Pirates: The True and Surprising Story of the Pirates of the Caribbean FISH: Fun Facts and Incredible Pictures on Animals and Nature: Fish (AGE 7-12) (Children's Books on Animals & Nature, fish,) Wedding Dresses - A Picture Guide Book For Wedding Dress and Gown Inspirations: A Picture-Perfect Guide To Selecting The Perfect Wedding Gown Is The Perfect ... For Brides-To-Be (Weddings by Sam Siv 7) Aquariums for Sharks. Pet Sharks and Shark Fish Care. The Complete Owners Guide. Keeping freshwater and marine sharks and shark fish in home aquariums. Handbook of Drugs and Chemicals Used in the Treatment of Fish Diseases: A Manual of Fish Pharmacology and Materia Medica Goldfish Care: The Complete Guide to Caring for and Keeping Goldfish as Pet Fish (Best Fish Care Practices) Ray Troll's Shocking Fish Tales: Fish, Romance, and Death in Pictures Betta Fish 101: The Complete Betta Fish Keeping Guide The Big Fish...out of water (The Big Fish Tails Book 2) Hooked On Autographs: My favorite tales in collecting autographed golf balls from golfers, entertainers, sports figures and U.S. presidents. The stories will delight golfers and even non-golfers. American Hooked and Sewn Rugs: Folk Art Underfoot Hooked Rugs: History and the Continuing Tradition Rags to Rugs: Hooked and Handsewn Rugs of Pennsylvania Simon and Schuster's Hooked on Cryptics Series 2 Chicken Soup for the Soul: Hooked on Hockey: 101 Stories about the Players Who Love the Game and the Families that Cheer Them On American Primitive Hooked Rugs: A Primer for Recreating Antique Rugs The Complete Guide to Collecting Hooked Rugs: Unrolling the Secrets Hooked Rugs of the Deep South The Big Book of Hooked Rugs: 1950-1980s
