Scup Fishing Guide

Scup — more formally known as porgy — is a compact, silvery, deep-bodied fish of the Mid-Atlantic and southern New England inshore zone, beloved by generations of boat anglers as a reliable, willing biter and superb table fish. They are a porgy family member with a small, slightly underslung mouth, fine teeth, and an impressive set of cheek and body scales that flash silver in the light. Scup were severely overfished by the early 1990s, collapsing to a fraction of historic abundance, but have recovered strongly under strict catch limits. Today they are one of the great success stories of East Coast fishery management. Their delicate, sweet flesh rewards the extra effort of navigating a complex skeleton, and whole roasted scup is a staple of Rhode Island and New England shore dinners.

Scup is a saltwater species.

Habitat

Scup are found from Maine to South Carolina but are most abundant in the Mid-Atlantic — Narragansett Bay, Long Island Sound, and the bays and inlets of New Jersey and New York are core summer habitat. They prefer sandy and mixed bottom near structure in depths of 5 to 120 feet, migrating offshore to deeper water in winter. In summer they concentrate heavily around inshore reefs, wrecks, and hard bottom in 20 to 60 feet.

Diet

Scup feed on small invertebrates including shrimp, squid, worms, small crabs, and benthic crustaceans, using their small but efficient mouths to pick bait from the bottom and structure. They are notorious bait thieves that can strip a hook with surprising speed and efficiency. Small pieces of squid, bloodworms, and shrimp on light hooks are the standard presentations.

Fishing Techniques

• Clam strip or squid on a double-hook bottom rig
• Small Sabiki rigs with clam pieces
• Jigging small metallic spoons near bottom

Best Seasons

Summer, Spring, Fall

Size & Records

Average weight: 1 lbs. World record: 4.65 lbs (Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, USA (1992)).