Sort the fish and sticks for the fire (8)
I believe the answer is:
kindling
'sticks for the fire' is the definition.
(kindling means material for starting a fire)
'sort the fish' is the wordplay.
'sort' becomes 'kind' (synonyms).
'the fish' becomes 'ling' (ling is a kind of fish).
'kind'+'ling'='KINDLING'
'and' is the link.
(Other definitions for kindling that I've seen before include "Igniting" , "Fire-starting material" , "Tiny bits of wood for the fire" , "Material for starting a fire" , "Twigs for lighting fires" .)