Overview
Also known as 'Porgy', one of the most caught fish in NE US. Abundant, feisty, and delicious.
Identification
Well-defined scalesLong dorsal finSmall mouthBluish reflectionsLarge eyesVisible lateral line
- Body
- Oval body, laterally compressed with a small mouth.
- Colouration
- Silvery coloration with dark spots on the back and blue-green reflections.
- Sexual dimorphism
- Absent/not noticeable
- Growth
- Medium, with relatively steady growth during the early years.
Taxonomy
- Family
- Sparidae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
Related species
Pagrus pagrusSparus aurataDiplodus sargusBoops boopsLithognathus mormyrus
Habitat & distribution
- Environment
- coast, reefs, estuaries
- Preferred bottom
- rock, sand
- Geographic distribution
- Found along the U.S. Atlantic coast, from Massachusetts to North Carolina.
- Micro-habitat
- Prefers sheltering among rocks and often swims near coral reefs and submerged structures.
Scup prefer hard, structured bottoms for protection and feeding.
Presence by sea area
Na Costa Est NordPeak
Na Costa Est CentroPeak
Diet
- Primary prey
- crustaceans, small mollusks, annelids
- Secondary prey
- seaweed, marine sponges, organic debris
- Occasional prey
- small fish, insect larvae
- Feeding behaviour
- Feeds by scraping the sea bottom, using teeth to crush prey.
- Natural predators
- sharks, larger fish, seabirds
Diet varies depending on the seasonal availability of benthic resources.
Behaviour
- Activity
- diurnal
- Social behaviour
- large_schools
- Aggressiveness
- low
- Migration
- Non-migratory, but more present in coastal areas during warm seasons.
- Seasonal behaviour
- Moves closer to the shore in spring and summer for spawning.
- Juveniles
- Stays in large schools for protection from predators.
- Adults
- Forms large schools and moves between different depths.
Reproduction
- Spawning season
- June, July
- Spawning depth
- between 20 and 60 meters
- Eggs
- Pelagic eggs, small, transparent, and floating.
- Larval stage
- Larval stages live among plankton until metamorphosis.
- Sexual maturity
- 3-4 years
When to catch Scup
Activity calendar
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
PeakGoodLowInactive
Activity by season
Best times
DayDawn, Dusk
Night—
This species shows peak fishing activity in spring, summer and autumn, when the productivity index (FPI) reaches its highest values.
Fishing activity decreases in winter, when conditions are less favourable.
Ideal conditions
Water temperature
10°COptimal zone: 14-24°C27°C
Preferred tide: moving
Where to catch it
Best spots
rocky areascoral reefspierssubmerged structures near shore
Bottom preference
Spot type
Fishing techniques
Recommended
reel fishingspinninglight trollingspearfishing
Other applicable
BolentinoPesca A FondoBeach FishingSurfcasting Leggero
Recommended baits
shrimpsquidshellfishartificial lures
Baits by pressure
Low
Shrimp artificiale (gomma)Softbait piccolo / LRF
Medium
Gambero morto / GamberoStriscia di calamaroPezzo di pesce
High
Verme americanoVerme di sangueArenicolaCozzaVerme di mareVongola / Clam
Catch & handling tips
- Fight
- When hooked, it shakes rapidly and twists to free itself.
- Handling
- Handle carefully using a wet cloth to avoid scale removal.
- Release
- Gently release avoiding impacts, preferably in deep water.
Curiosities & culture
- Record catches
- The scup is particularly popular along the eastern coast of the United States, attracting many sport fishermen. In Italian waters, specimens of modest size are caught, rarely exceeding 1 kg.
- In the kitchen
- Often roasted or fried, appreciated for its white and flavorful meat.
- Cultural notes
- In some cultures, the Scup is seen as a symbol of marine abundance.
- Historical notes
- A species historically fished along the U.S. Atlantic coast, known to Native Americans.
