Fish guide
Scup
Stenotomus chrysops. Also called Porgy, Sand porgy, Humpback.
We picked these fish for Virginia Beach and the Chesapeake Bay mouth, VA, the region closest to Columbus, Ohio, based on the approximate location of your internet connection (IP geolocation, looked up on our own server). It is about 436 miles away; FishOS covers the coast from Maine to Florida and the Gulf of America, and adds regions as they are checked. Pick another region if that is not where you fish.
FishOS has not charted scup in Virginia Beach and the Chesapeake Bay mouth, VA. The regions where it is charted are below.
Season by region
| Long Island | JFMAMJJASOND |
|---|---|
| Cape Cod | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Rhode Island | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Connecticut | JFMAMJJASOND |
| North Jersey | JFMAMJJASOND |
| South Jersey | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Delmarva | JFMAMJJASOND |
Where to find them
Shallow North Shore water from shore with sandworms and clams in summer; bridges, piers and bulkheads in the bays; bigger fish on Sound, Gardiners Bay and Peconic hard bottom and ocean reefs by boat.
Schools feeding about a foot off the bottom (NY Sea Grant).
What to look for
Hard bottom, mussel beds and structure edges in the bays and Sound.
Bait
Clams, Sandworms. Hi-lo bottom rig with small baitholder hooks, sinker just heavy enough for depth and current..
Leader
NY Sea Grant: light, sturdy rod (about 5 ft) with 15 lb line and baitholder hooks.
Common mistakes
- Hooks too big for a small mouth
- Sinker too heavy to feel the quick bites
- Sorting through shorts without moving to find bigger fish
Landing
Swing it up; small fish.
Handling
- Sharp dorsal spine
Smooth the dorsal fin back before gripping.
Keep or release
Fine-flavored but bony (NY Sea Grant). Check the New York size, bag and season.
Typical: Sand porgy about 1/2 lb, bay porgy about 1 lb. Large: Humpbacks 1.5 to over 3 lb; few grow over 6 lb. NY record 6.25 lb (1978).
Limits
FishOS has not checked the VA limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Virginia Marine Resources Commission before you keep a fish.
Sources
- NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NE-149: EFH source document, scup (1999) (Official source)
- New York Sea Grant fish profile: Porgy (scup) (Cornell, 2001) (Official source)
- NYSDEC Marine Recreational Angler Records Program (Official source)
Is scup worth it today?
The planner rates it for your exact time with the live tide, weather and water temperature.
Create your account