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Scup
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Acanthuriformes
Family:	Sparidae
Genus:	Stenotomus
Species:	S. chrysops
Binomial name
Stenotomus chrysops (Linnaeus, 1766)
Synonyms
Sparus chrysops Linnaeus, 1766 Sparus argyrops Linnaeus, 1766 Sparus zanthurus Lacépède, 1802 Sparus violaceus Shaw, 1803 Labrus versicolor Mitchill, 1815 Chrysophrys aculeata Valenciennes, 1830 Sargus arenosus De Kay, 1842 Cynaedus brama Gronow, 1854 Sargus ambassis Günther, 1859 Mimocubiceps virginiae Fowler, 1944

The scup (Stenotomus chrysops) is a fish that occurs primarily in the Atlantic from Massachusetts to South Carolina. Along with many other fish of the family Sparidae, it is also commonly known as porgy.

Scup grow as large as 18 in (460 mm) and weigh 3–4 lb (1.4–1.8 kg), but they average 0.5–1.0 lb (0.23–0.45 kg). Scup can live up to 20 years; females can begin to reproduce at the age of two. Every year female scups lay approximately 7,000 eggs in sand and weed abundant areas.

In the Middle Atlantic Bight, scup spawn along the inner continental shelf. Their larvae end up in inshore waters, along the coast and in estuarine areas. At two to three years of age, they mature. Scup winter along the mid and outer continental shelf. When the temperature warms in the spring, they migrate inshore.

They are fished for by both commercial and recreational fishermen. The scup fishery is one of the oldest in the United States, with records dating back to 1800. Scup was the most abundant fish in colonial times. Fishermen began using trawls in 1929, which increased catches dramatically. The species was termed overfished in 1996, and today there is evidence of a rebound. Today, scup are still caught primarily using an otter trawl.

Cuisine

The flesh is "firm and flaky", with a "sweet almost shrimplike flavor". Many consumers like their light flavor and they are characterized as panfish. Popular methods of cooking include frying, broiling, and baking.

Though the flesh is similar to that of more prestigious fish in the sea bream family like daurade and orata, the names "scup" and "porgy" are sometimes considered unattractive, leading to culinary names like orata Americana and Montauk sea bream.

Its similarity to Pagrus major and its mild and fatty characteristics makes it suitable for sushi.

Management

Scup are heavily fished commercially and recreationally. Management measures for the species generally include size limits, bag limits, fishing seasons, and equipment requirements. Scup are also managed through quotas that are separately regulated during the different seasons. In Massachusetts, management plans result in the distribution of 78% of the yearly permitted harvest of scups for commercial purposes, and 22% for recreational fishing.

Fishing

Since scups attack bait frantically, squid strips are the most common choice of bait because they stay intact and suspended on the hook after several strikes. Anglers also use sand-worms and clam as baits for scup due to clams and worms being part of the scups actual diet.

See also

• Porgy fishing

References

1. Carpenter, K.E. (2014). "Stenotomus chrysops". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T170168A1286359. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T170168A1286359.en. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
2. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Stenotomus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
3. "Stenotomus chrysops". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 19 March 2006.
4. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Stenotomus chrysops". FishBase. January 2006 version.
5. Fisheries, NOAA (2020-07-21). "Scup | NOAA Fisheries". NOAA. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
6. ^ "Learn about: Scup". Mass.gov. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
7. Fisheries, NOAA (September 1, 2021). "New England/Mid-Atlantic | NOAA Fisheries". NOAA.
8. "Wild Domestic Scup Recommendation from Seafood Watch". www.seafoodwatch.org. Archived from the original on 2015-07-13.
9. Alan Davidson, North Atlantic Seafood, 1979, ISBN 0670515248, p. 101
10. ^ Fabricant, Florence (August 20, 2021). "This Fish Is Sustainable, Cheap and Delicious on the Grill". New York Times. Archived from the original on 2021-08-23.
11. Abarbanel, Aliza (22 April 2022). "Sushi As We Know It Will Not Survive. Can the Restaurant Industry Reinvent It?". bonappetit.com. Bon Appetit. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
12. Scup NOAA FishWatch. Retrieved 5 November 2012.

• IUCN Red List near threatened species
• Commercial fish
• Fish of the Atlantic Ocean
• Sparidae
• Fish described in 1766
• Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus