THE QUIET FOOD EQUATION – FISH

I once did the math on how much protein an average man my size and age with a steady workout regimen would need to survive annually, and it worked out to about 80 pounds of PURE protein a year.  For a family of five, it was around 300 pounds (Ish).  I did not do the math because I was wondering how much I ate; I did it because I was contemplating purchasing a quarter cow to fill my freezer in the garage.  And at the time, the math (which was three years ago), was too high for me.  Looking back now, I probably should have just done it.

And it was here that the math hit me:  In an austere conditions, how in the heck can you get “X” amount of protein and survive long-term?  If the grocery store closes, it is not like I have 10 deer in my backyard daily that I could go harvest.  Or fifty wild rabbits.  And anyone thinking, “Just fill your freezer now!”  Well, that is a great idea… and THEN what?  Once you eat through your stored protein sources, there needs to be something else. Sure, I can hunt.  But after two weeks after a cataclysmic event, blasting #8 bird shot into my field while I hunt quail because I am slowly starving is not exactly the stealth tactic I would like to adopt.  Snares?  We all know that is not reliable.  A .22 air-rifle?  Perhaps.  And yes, squirrels, doves and rabbits would probably be the most sought-after food source, until those become slowly thinned out. I have pondered this very scenario for years, and then I realized while bass fishing one day, the real stealth-protein-sustaining-answer was right at my fingertips.  Fish.

THE PERCEIVED POST-DISASTER FOOD PHILOSOPHY:

This graph is more of a continuation of another article I recently published concerning elongating your food supply by “thinking tertiary -grow seeds not meals”. The quiet food is just that.  Food that is predominately OPSEC and focused on one component of a progression-based preparedness framework, where today’s decisions shape tomorrow’s options. Below is a quick overview of what I feel is the current preparedness narrative when it comes to food sources.  Now, it does not mean that said thinking is wrong or flawed, it just means each situation may be different during a certain disaster.  A person may need (or want) to prolong sowing their garden crops and butchering their farm animals if whatever situation unfolds seems that it will go on indefinitely. 

FISH – THE QUIET FOOD:

Every person needs protein, carbohydrates, and fat to remain healthy. While the exact amounts vary by age, size, activity level, and gender, everyone shares the same basic nutritional requirements. I’ve spent years thinking about how to stretch my own food stores while also asking myself what I could realistically acquire if everyone around me was hungry—or worse, starving. That is where I have concluded that fishing is one of the most overlooked options (assuming you live near a suitable body of water) for meeting your daily protein needs.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of why fishing has a tremendous upside over many other protein sources. Fishing is:

· One of the quietest ways to obtain protein.

· Requires far less caloric expenditure than hunting.

· Attracts less attention than firearms.

· Preserves operational security (OPSEC).

· Scales well for long-term sustainability.

· Works while you’re doing something else (passive lines, trotlines where legal).

· Doesn’t reveal your location through noise.

· Creates almost no smell compared to cooking large game.

· Is ideal for people without firearms or trapping skills, older preppers, or individuals in poor health who may no longer be able to go after larger game.

To expand upon this philosophy, I have created the bottom graph via AI to show just how beneficial fishing could be if you are in a post-disaster situation.

WHAT I WOULD DO IF I WAS NEW TO ALL OF THIS INFORMATION:

1. Before doing anything, find bodies of water near your location, or on the way to your bug-out location such as lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, and even the ocean.  Using Google Earth may make the search much quicker.
2. After identifying nearby bodies of water, determine what types of fish they contain.  For example, a river or deep stream may hold trout, while a pond in your area may only have crappie and catfish.
3. Learn your state laws and regulations on purchasing a fishing license.  This might sound silly if you are preparing for an apocalypse, but it will make more sense as I go along.
4. Although fishing is not rocket science, if you have never done it before, I would highly recommend you start.  Whether it is watching videos, asking a friend or relative to teach you, it is crucial you get the basics under your belt before having to do it in a life-or-death situation.
5. Gear. I could write a book about this subject, but for the sake of brevity, you need to have at least one fishing rod, with the proper pound strength line, and hooks, lures, maybe weights.  The basics.
6. A boat.  This will be up to you, the reader, if you think paddling out in your john boat after a comet impact is the smart way to catch fish.  Each situation will vary, but a boat is not necessary to catch fish.  (See picture below)
7. Once you think you have the basics down, purchasing gear does not need to be expensive.  You can find some great deals at yard sales, estate sales, and pawn shops.  You do not always have to purchase new equipment.
8. Practice.  Practice. Practice. This is where your fishing license will come into play.  You will want to follow all laws and regulations for your state when it comes to freshwater / saltwater fishing. 
9. Learn how to gut and clean a fish.  Each fish is a little different, this is why it helps you to know the type of fish you are looking to catch.
10. Eat what you catch.  I can honestly say that as the writing of this article, I HATE eating fish.  But I have.  And I will if need be.  So, if you do not like the smell or the taste, I would recommend carrying some spices in your kit, or sauces if you cannot get beyond the smell and taste.  Protein is protein and beggars can’t be choosers.

Author Sgt. Silverman shore fishing at a private pond (with permission) for bass in the Carolinas               May 2026 – John 21:11

FINAL THOUGHTS:

This article is not intended to work for everyone.  There are so many variables such as geographic location, (inner city, suburbs, rural), type of event and its duration, population density, age of the individual, how many family members, and so on.  There could be some people reading this that do not have more than three days of food on hand, nor have a garden, which would then force them to search for wild foods and proteins immediately.  My goal wasn’t to tell you this is the only solution. It was to challenge a preparedness mindset that has always seemed a little too cut-and-dried to me. As the graphics above illustrate, different situations may call for different approaches. 

Do your best with what you have, always strive to improve your situation, stay strong in your faith, and I wish you the very best in catching as many fish to sustain yourself and your family as possible!

Sgt. Silverman

DISCLAIMER:

I am not a licensed nutritionist, financial advisor, or medical doctor. The information in this article is for information purposes only and does not replace professional treatment, diagnosis, or advice. Always check with your physician or qualified healthcare provider with any medical questions, and never disregard professional medical advice based on something you read here.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

© 2026 Sgt. Silverman / Tertiary Prepper. All Rights Reserved.

This article and all original works published under the pseudonym Sgt. Silverman are the exclusive intellectual property of the author. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, republished, copied, or adapted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author or publisher.

Proper attribution and written permission are required for any use beyond applicable fair use. Unauthorized reproduction, plagiarism, or commercial use may be subject to enforcement under applicable United States copyright laws.

AI-Assisted Visuals & Examples

If you’ve been reading Tertiary Prepper for any length of time, you’ve probably noticed charts, graphs, calculations, and visuals that explain preparedness concepts in ways you don’t normally see discussed. Many of those examples were created with the assistance of artificial intelligence—but only after I gave it very specific instructions on what I wanted to teach.

I don’t use AI to create my preparedness philosophy. I use it to help visualize it.

Many of the tertiary concepts discussed throughout this magazine—such as Sustainment Foraging, Pressure Testing, The Autonomous Recovery Kit (ARK), The Quiet Food Equation, and other original frameworks—are my own ideas and observations. AI simply helps me build charts, graphics, and examples that make those concepts easier to understand as I am a very visual person, and I am sure many who read these concepts will be as well.

Preparedness is rarely black and white. There are very few absolute right or wrong answers—only different experiences, different priorities, and different ways of solving the same problem. My hope is that these articles simply give us another reason to sit around the campfire, challenge conventional thinking, and ponder practical solutions together.