Waterlands

Species guide · New York

Scup fishing in New York

Stenotomus chrysops, a nearshore species also called porgy and northern porgy. Listed for the Mid-Atlantic region. Peak season, about 6 more weeks.

Right now it scores best in Long Island Sound West of New Haven CT/Port Jefferson NY at 78, one of 4 New York bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.

Season now

Peak season
Where it's scoring nowAll New York waters

Season by month

From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.

Mid-Atlantic

Peak season, about 6 more weeks
  1. Jan: Not present
  2. Feb: Not present
  3. Mar: Not present
  4. Apr: Off season
  5. May: Shoulder season
  6. Jun: Peak season
  7. Jul: Peak season
  8. Aug: Peak season
  9. Sep: Peak season
  10. Oct: Peak season
  11. Nov: Shoulder season
  12. Dec: Not present

Peak: Jun to Oct. In season (shoulder or peak): May to Nov.

Research notes, Mid-Atlantic region

Coastal from Chesapeake Bay north from spring to fall and most important to anglers in New York and New Jersey. Present inshore whenever water is above about 45 F (7 C); late fall fish hold on ocean wrecks before moving to the outer shelf south of New Jersey for winter.

Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.

Where it's scoring now · 4

New York bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's scup score this hour.

1
78Great
Long Island Sound West of New Haven CT/Port Jefferson NY

Best window today 1-8 PM (82) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 7 PM (83) · 115 named spots

2
77Great
New York Harbor

Best window today 1-7 PM (78) · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 5 PM (79) · 51 named spots

3
77Great
Peconic and Gardiners Bays

Best window today 1-8 PM (80) · Best day Sat, Sep 19 at 6 PM (81) · 76 named spots

4
77Great
South Shore Bays from Jones Inlet through Shinnecock Bay

Best window today 1-7 PM (77) · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 8 AM (79) · 155 named spots

How and where it feeds

Water temperature
Feeds from 48°F to 80°F, best between 55°F and 75°F.
Water depth
5 to 100 ft of water.
Structure
Reef, ledge, jetty, pier, wreck, channel, bay and beach, in that order of preference.
Tide and current
Prefers incoming tide and high tide, with light current.In harbors and along beaches scup move shallow on the flood and high tide and drop back to deeper channels as the tide falls (NOAA EFH source document). Over offshore rock piles and wrecks a light current keeps chum and bait near the bottom.
Light
Little tied to dawn and dusk.
Pressure
Little response to pressure changes.
Wind and sea limits
18 kt of wind and 4 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.

Tackle and technique

Scup school over hard and mixed bottom, rock piles, mussel beds, piers and jetties, usually in 10 to 60 feet of water. Fish a high-low rig with small hooks and squid or clam strips on the bottom, and chum with clam to hold a school under the boat. If nothing bites within 15 minutes, move to the next piece of structure.

Methods
bottom fishing, chumming
Lures
small bucktail jigs tipped with squid, teaser rigs
Bait
squid strips, clams, sandworms, bloodworms

Regulations

NYSDEC saltwater regulations Buy a New York fishing license License types

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Synced with NYSDEC Sep 18, 2026.

No reviewed scup rule for New York is on file yet. Check with NYSDEC before you keep one.

Other New York species