Scup

Season in Rhode Island

Peak months: Jul, Aug.

OTW June 25 2026: the scup bite continues to improve, strong catches at Colt State Park and Rocky Point Park. OTW Aug 2026: consistent as ever throughout the state. MA DMF season frame (April to October at over 45 F). (Our inference)

Season by region

Where to find them

Shore spots in upper Narragansett Bay such as Colt State Park and Rocky Point Park (OTW June 2026); reefs and rock piles statewide.

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

Good eating; ice quickly.

Recipes for scup

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 RI limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Rhode Island DEM Division of Marine Fisheries before you keep a fish.

Sources

• On The Water: Rhode Island Fishing Report, June 25 2026 (Ocean State Tackle, The Saltwater Edge) (Angler knowledge)
• On The Water: Rhode Island Fishing Report, Aug 13 2026 (Ocean State Tackle, The Saltwater Edge) (Angler knowledge)
• MA DMF: Learn about scup (Official source)
• 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)

All the fish of Rhode Island