Scup (Stenotomus chrysops)

Description

Scup or porgy (Stenotomus chrysops), are large fish, weighing as much as 1.5 kilograms and growing to 37 centimeters in length (Grosslein and Azarovitz 1982). Coloration is iridescent silver, and they have pointed pectoral fins and deeply curved caudal fins (Weiss 1995).

Background

Distribution. Scup occur along the continental shelf from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to Cape Cod, Massachusetts (Grosslein and Azarovitz 1982), and they are found most often in bays and sounds (Weiss 1995). Larger fish migrate inshore in the spring followed by smaller fish (Grosslein and Azarovitz 1982), and adults spend the summer months near shore, while fish under four years tend to live in bays and estuaries. In winter, scup typically migrate offshore (Berg and Levinton 1985). Raritan Bay is a spawning area, nursery area, and part-time residence of this species in NY/NJ Harbor (MacKenzie 1990).

Feeding. Scup are bottom feeders that consume small crustaceans, worms, molluscs, and plant matter (Grosslein and Azarovitz 1982). Their primary predators include larger piscivorous fish and humans.

Fishery. Scup are fished both commercially and recreationally. Since the early 1900s, commercial landings increased to a peak of 22,000 metric tons (MT) in 1960 (12,000 MT of which is from New York and New Jersey; NMFS 1999). Soon after, the population suffered a severe decline with landings of 1,300 MT in 1971. Poor recruitment and strong fishing pressure from both fisheries were blamed for this sharp population decline (Grosslein and Azarovitz 1982). Recently, the population has begun to recover (NMFS 1999), but it is still well below its previous size.

Life Cycle

Scup spawn from May to August, primarily in the estuaries of Long Island and New Jersey, including Sandy Hook Bay and Raritan Bay (Grosslein and Azarovitz 1982). Eggs are buoyant, spherical, and small (0.85 to 1.15 millimeters), hatching in approximately 40 hours. The larvae are pelagic until they reach approximately 3 millimeters in length, at which time they assume a benthic lifestyle (Azarovitz et al. 1985). Juveniles develop adult coloration and fins at 10 millimeters in length, and at 40 to 60 millimeters in length, they assume the shape of an adult. Juveniles live a demersal lifestyle in bays and saline estuary waters (Chesapeake Bay Program 1987). Scup grow to approximately 60 percent of their adult size within their first three years, and live an average of fifteen years. Sexual maturity, in both males and females, is attained at age two (Azarovitz et al. 1985).

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