Scup facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scup |
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The scup (scientific name: Stenotomus chrysops) is a type of fish found mainly in the Atlantic Ocean. You can find them along the coast from Massachusetts all the way down to South Carolina. Many people also call this fish a porgy, especially since it belongs to the same fish family, Sparidae, as other porgies.
Scup can grow quite large, up to 18 inches (457 mm) long. They can weigh around 3 to 4 pounds (1.4–1.8 kg), but most scup caught are about 0.5 to 1.0 pound (0.2–0.5 kg). These fish can live for a long time, sometimes up to 20 years!
Contents
Scup Life Cycle and Habits
Scup are interesting fish with a specific life cycle.
Where Scup Live and Travel
In the Middle Atlantic Bight area, scup lay their eggs near the coast on the inner continental shelf. After the eggs hatch, the tiny baby fish, called larvae, drift into shallow waters. They often end up in coastal areas and places where fresh and saltwater mix, known as estuarine areas.
When scup are about two to three years old, they are old enough to have their own babies. During the colder winter months, scup move to deeper, warmer waters. They stay along the middle and outer parts of the continental shelf. As spring arrives and the water gets warmer, they swim back closer to the shore.
How Scup Reproduce
Female scup can start having babies when they are about two years old. Each year, a female scup can lay around 7,000 eggs! They usually lay these eggs in areas where there is a lot of sand and water plants. This helps protect the eggs as they develop.
Scup Fishing and History
Scup are very popular fish for both commercial fishermen and people who fish for fun.
A Long History of Fishing
The history of catching scup in the United States goes way back. Records show that people were fishing for scup as early as the 1800s. In the past, during colonial times, scup were one of the most common fish caught.
In 1929, fishermen started using a new method called trawling, which involves dragging a large net behind a boat. This made it much easier to catch a lot more scup. Because so many were caught, the species was considered overfished by 1996. This means too many were being caught, and their numbers were getting too low.
Scup Today
Luckily, there's good news! Today, there are signs that the scup population is growing again. Fishermen still mostly use an otter trawl to catch scup.
Cooking Scup: A Delicious Fish
Scup is known for being a very tasty fish!
Flavor and Texture
The meat of the scup is described as "firm and flaky." It has a "sweet, almost shrimplike flavor," which many people really enjoy. Because of their light flavor, scup are often called panfish. This means they are small enough to fit in a frying pan and are great for a quick meal.
Popular Ways to Cook Scup
There are many popular ways to cook scup. You can fry them until they are crispy, broil them, or bake them in the oven.
Different Names for Scup
Even though scup taste similar to other fancy fish in the sea bream family, like daurade and orata, the names "scup" and "porgy" are sometimes not considered very appealing. Because of this, some chefs use more elegant names like orata Americana or Montauk sea bream to make them sound more attractive to customers.
Scup also has a mild and slightly fatty taste, similar to a fish called Pagrus major. This makes it a good choice for sushi dishes.
Managing Scup Fishing
Because so many scup are caught, there are rules in place to help manage their population.
Fishing Rules and Limits
Both commercial and recreational fishing for scup are carefully managed. These rules often include:
- Size limits: Fish must be a certain size to be kept.
- Bag limits: There's a limit to how many fish a person can catch.
- Fishing seasons: There are specific times of the year when scup can be caught.
- Equipment requirements: Rules about the type of fishing gear that can be used.
Scup fishing is also managed using quotas. A quota is a set limit on the total number of fish that can be caught during different seasons. For example, in Massachusetts, about 78% of the allowed scup catch goes to commercial fishermen, and 22% is for people fishing for fun.
How to Catch Scup
Scup are known for biting fishing bait very eagerly!
Best Baits for Scup
If you want to catch scup, squid strips are a great choice for bait. They stay on the hook well even after several bites. Anglers (people who fish with a rod and line) also use sand-worms and clams. This is because clams and worms are actually part of a scup's natural diet, so they are very attractive to the fish.
See also
- Porgy fishing
