Saltwater · Late spring to fall best; May to October over inshore structure

Scup

Stenotomus chrysops

A deep-bodied porgy and a staple of Northeast pier and party-boat fishing from New England to New Jersey. Anglers call it 'porgy', but that is also an umbrella name for the whole porgy family — this fish is not the red porgy of Florida. Schools are plentiful, bites are eager, and it is one of the easiest saltwater fish for beginners.

Seasons · Peak

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Scup — Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0 — Wikimedia Commons

Identifying features

Deep, strongly compressed silvery body with a steep forehead
Small mouth with narrow incisor-like teeth at the front
Long spiny dorsal fin that folds into a groove
Blue-green and silver sheen, darker on the back, with faint bars when young
Forked tail and a small dark spot sometimes at the upper pectoral-fin base

Habits

Schools densely over hard bottom, mussel beds and wrecks
Moves inshore in spring and offshore to deeper water in winter
Feeds on mussels, crabs, worms, squid and small shellfish
Bites eagerly but steals bait quickly with its small mouth
Most active in daylight, especially on moving tides

Distribution

Boston, MA · New England★ Primary

New York, NY · New York★ Primary

Portland, ME · MaineCommon

Jersey Shore, NJ · New Jersey & DelawareCommon

Where to find them

New England piers and party-boat reefs in summer
Long Island Sound rocky bottom and wrecks
New Jersey jetties and inshore mussel beds

Where they live

Rocky reefs, wrecks and mussel bedsPiers, jetties and harbour structureParty-boat bottom grounds in 20-100 ft (6-30 m)

How to catch them

High-low rig from piers and party boats Boat

Rig: High-low bottom rig with two size 4-6 hooks above a 2-4 oz sinker, fished straight down from a pier or party boat

Bait/lure: Clam, squid or shrimp pieces

Key tip: Use small hooks and small baits — scup nibble fast and a big hook misses most bites.

Bottom fishing over mussel beds and rock Boat

Rig: Charter-boat bottom rig with a bank sinker over mussel beds and rocky structure, kept tight to the bottom

Bait/lure: Clam pieces and squid strips

Key tip: Anchor up-current of the structure and chum lightly; the school will gather under the boat.

Best baits & lures

Clam piecesSquid stripsShrimp pieces

Techniques for Scup →

Baseline setup

Rod: Medium-light 6-7 ft spinning or conventional rod
Line: 15-20 lb braid or mono
Terminal: High-low rigs, size 4-6 hooks, 2-4 oz bank sinkers

Recommended gear for this species

Rod · Best value

9' 5-weight fly rod outfit

≈ US$180-260

Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.

Flies · Budget

Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)

≈ US$25-40

Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.

Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.

Typical size

Common 9-12 in (23-30 cm), about 0.5-1.5 lb (0.2-0.7 kg); large fish to 18 in (46 cm) and 4 lb (1.8 kg)

On the table

Good — mild, firm white flesh; pan-fried whole or filleted, though many small bones.

Similar species

Black Sea BassBlack sea bass is darker, stockier and has a much larger mouth and a pointed tail lobe; scup is silvery, deep and small-mouthed

TautogTautog is dark, blunt-headed with thick lips and molar teeth for crushing shellfish; scup is bright silver with a steep forehead and small incisor teeth

Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →

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