What do they do at night? Are they doctural feeders?

I spent most of my younger years catching scup from shore, the bite would start at first light and usualy dies at mid morning, if your lucky.....on a boat the bite can be all day. Until light breaks the bite is dead. I've caught scup at night once in awhile by accident particularly in the fall. Bet they make good bait at night too;)

Goose,
I don't know what trhey do at night, but they don't eat. I've never caught any at night but I have caught them practically in the dark over by cherry harbor when they get the June bite. Its a strictly first thing in the morning thing and they do start biting before the sun clears the horizon. I've also fished for them in may other places where they bit all day, as long as the tide was runing.

I've caught scup off of powder point bridge in Duxbury in September, black sea bass too, mostly in the afternoon

Many scup from Bird Island

Also from the Gooseberry Island causeway in Westport

Years ago, I caught a scup the size of a dinner plate in the Canal while dunking worms for bass. So at least one of them fed at night ;)

People claim bonito and albies don't feed at night, too. Back in the days I used to go on night bluefish head boats, I saw plenty caught on bait.

Scup are a favorite striper snack---maybe they come inshore when the bass head for deeper water as it gets lighter :confused:

Tony =I thought we talked about this //// I can smoke them at night=if I want them/
never had any luck fishing them after dark ================================================== ================================================== =====:D

I catch Scup at night or should say about 4 am before the sun comes up.
I can get them in the light's at the ferry in Woods Hole.
They are usualy smaller ones but I can get anough so i can live line when the sun just comming up. Then there are pleanty of bigger ones out further.

I also remember large scup being accidently caught on chunked squid and pogie chunks ar night.

Clam, I don't remember that conversation. You'ld think live bait kills them at night, why not scup?

???????????????:confused:

Being the purist that I am, I don't fish live bait but have caught Bass at night with the belly full of Scup. Because of the spines on the Scup, I guess the Bass cannot puke them. If there are Scup in the way Bass will eat them anytime he is feeding.

I caught many scups at wing's neck, falmouth harbor, and onset, but august is usually the hottest time for scups and they are very pesty because i dont want to hunt for them. I even caught many huge scups on a fluke rig (two-hook bait) on a whole squid or a chunk of mackerels. I even caught it on a sandeel. A calm and sunny day will bring you a good day of scupping.

Goose, I tried livelining it for bass from a rock, but I have no response. Although, it was going to rain and thunder on that day. I guess that my shot at livelining a scup for a bass is being on a boat.

Who the hell wants to catch scup, fricking bait thieves! I used to catch 100's of these bastards when i was marinating chunks this past yearfor bass and blues. Probally could have caught thousands if i used smaller hooks. I caught all day long, but never any at night. Anyone live line scup with any luck?

All the time!! no better way to get them!!

Here is some live scup fish from 2003

:happy:

my son!! all over 30# so yes Scup work

Tony, I sometimes catch scup at night on fresh squid strips at the docks in Edgartown - in deeper water. Only do that when I've run outta eels and am desperate to use scup for bait. :crying: It's usually a better bite during daylight hours.

Couple a things I learned about live lining scup ... the sharpies I've fished with don't handle the scup with their bare hands, they gently use a rag. I don't know exactly why, but I think it has to to with preventing removal of the protective slime and to prevent your own scent from being imparted to the scup (which could scare away bass.)

Also, chop off the dorsal fin just before you are about to use the scup ... emits a little blood chum and also makes it easier for the bass to swallow the bait.

-WW

i have had my best luck at first/last light with scup. i live lined a few in a b'way last fall. conditions were perfect. bottoming out tide, fish around the past few nights, but no fish on the scup. :confused: as soon as i put on an eel i was into bass. these were scup caught by a friend.... http://www.ct-outfitters.com/guides/10-28-03blaine52inch3a.jpg http://www.fishingct.com/images/photos/lis/10-28-03blaine52inch5a.jpg

Toby brings up an interesting point.

Just going over my log - seems to me that scup is a good choice of bait for spring and summer. Fall, I'm not too sure - there might be better choices out there.

-WW

those two were caught in the end of october if i remember correctly. the bluefish were feeding like mad on the surface. if you could get your scup down below the blues, the bass were gorging on the falling bait. i would assume the scup were feeding on the chum formed by the blues, and the bass on the scup. unfortunately, i was not part of that day. after all, they were caught in a boat...... :smash:

Scup is yous best were scup hang out. This is why the bass hit them they are the food in that area!
I put my Scup on full, no cutting of the spines or anything.

Useing a rag makes alota sence Ben. Last year I did great during daylight, seems like others have too. I can't see why scup wouldn't be just as effective at night, the only thing I can think is they don't have a scent as strong as pogies or herring and maybe their quicker?? just a matter of stocking the well for night.

Might try chum around lit bridges or docks for scup.

Dad with a BIG scup.. sry for the bad pic.. its a picture within a picture

Canalrat and I know a guy who used to have a unique way of live-lining scup. After he caught a few and put them in a bucket, he'd take them down to the Maritime Academy, and cast them into the side of the pier to stun them. They'd flap around on the surface, and those big momma's who hang in the hull shadows of the tugs during the day would come out to inhale them.

He didn't land many cause they'd run around the pier and cut him off, but he had fun trying ;)

Live lining scup today, you have to be careful because of size limits. He used palm sized scup and I think they have to be bigger today to keep.

Originally posted by Mike P
Maritime Academy, and cast them into the side of the pier to stun them. They'd flap around on the surface, and those big momma's who hang in the hull shadows of the tugs during the day would come out to inhale them.


And there is some HUGE cows next to them tugs.. i'll tell you that :rolleyes: :D but ya cant fish up there anymore// only if you goto the school you can fish up there.. the coppers get on there little mega phone.. '' please get off the peir '':af:

Jr Link

..my thoughts on scuppies - - -

I can't see handling a scup with a rag being better than handling them with your fingers. I would think that with the rag being more coarse (meaning the terry texture), it would remove more of the protective coating than your fingers would. I grab my scup just behind the eyes with my thumb and index finger // no where else. Normally, the only things that make contact are my finger tips, using a rag...there are the contact points of where you grab the fish AND the areas of the rag that still rub against the fish in spots that using your fingers would not. When in captivity, scup won't normally swim backwards or in reverse, meaning that if you place your fingers infront of them while they're circling the live-well...they will swim right into your hand...sometimes they need a little coaxing from behind just to get them to swim forward. Have your hand ready to grab as they burst forward...I wouldn't worry about the scent much either,,, with them being alive and in panic mode...that should overcome any scent issues with the Bass. When I've caught bass on scup....it would be continuous....but when it was over, it was over....When I used to bait-fish more for bass..I would always find that at one time versus another, they would strike a certain bait more often. I would normally carry multiple flavors ...macks/pogies/squid/etc.... I always seemed to run out of one type..faster than the others...That was their preferred flavor for that period. I never actually put my finger on why though....because I would stick the same bait in similar circumstances and not always get the same result. It had nothing to do with what they were feeding on in that area because there was not always that type of bait in those spots. .... Could Bass be a moody fish?? :laughs: ...or better yet,,,,FINICKY!!

Good point Bloo in handleing the scup but I disagree with scent. Handleing herring or poges for instance, getting that scent off your hands isn't that easy...even after washing your hands several times before bed isn't enough. I don't think scup is as oily or has the same scent. Maybe thats why scup isn't as effective at night? I don't know.

Goose...the scent I was talking about was the possible scent left behind by man...(not to worry with live/baits)....but as far as scents that fish leave behind........I DEFINATELY agree,,, scup is NOT one of the more stinkier fish in the fish community :D......they must have better personal hygiene.....:laughs:

here's a little trick for getting the smell off of your hands when handling herring. Wash them w/ Shaving Cream. I would be at work smelling herring all day until I tried this. It seemed to work on the 1st try. once in awhile i'd nahve to wash them a 2nd time. Give it a try, It makes the wife happy

this is interesting as I never tried these for stripers.I*ve tried them for Tuna with no luck--Isnt there a posession and size limit on them now also? will have to try the shaving cream also I usually use TEGRIN shampoo and it works pretty good at removing even Pogie stink.

When the commercial season is open for scup, a guy I work with goes after them with fish pots. Sometimes I'II tag along armed with a rod and reel. When he hauls the gear to the surface, clam bellies will fall out of the trap. The bass will follow the trap to the surface eating the bits of bait. If I see a bass I'II drop a live scup overboard and have me some fun.

With scup the drop back is long, real long. Much longer than an eel. My first time doing it, out of eight takes, I must have dropped close to eight fish. I was fumming with frustration. Then I got better, but still dropped my share of fish.

John,
I started using big gami circles with live scup... long count...... late oct. off newport while doing some early season blackfishing can be good...
Good way to catch gator blues too....

Bryan last Nov. togging of Newport did you happen to see the bluefins that came by? I've never rerigged so fast in my life. But as would be expected the tunas sounded before we got a good cast in.

Not last year, but in early dec 02, we were anchored a ways out (we fish deep) and a school went by inside of us, this was the same time all the fish had been spoted near hazard ave, etc.. Of course it was 3-5, hard NW and we said screw it and kept toging, had one over 12 that day I think... not a BFT but a decent enough
But now I always carry a rod rigged with a 6oz diamond jig just in case...
Bobby on the sea mule had seen em the same day, tried a green machine, but nada... what a trip that would be tog and BFT's!

Originally posted by Bawana
this is interesting as I never tried these for stripers.I*ve tried them for Tuna with no luck--Isnt there a posession and size limit on them now also? will have to try the shaving cream also I usually use TEGRIN shampoo and it works pretty good at removing even Pogie stink.

In Rhody they have to be 10".

You got to let them Bass eat the Scup!! They will almost set the hooks them self. You got to make sure that they get it in. So take your time wait wait wait Bam!!

I used to catch squeteague on scup chunks in Buzzards Bay. Ever use scup chunks for weakfish?

Anyone know whether the 2004 size on scup will go up? It was 10 inches in '03 with a limit of 50 fish.

Ma. it is 9" and 50 fish

Originally posted by macojoe
Ma. it is 9" and 50 fish

he dont no what hes talkin about:smash: :laughs: j/k that sound right..


Jr Link

You should no the scup rules!! Its the only thing you no how to catch!! :laughs:

Originally posted by macojoe
You should no the scup rules!! Its the only thing you no how to catch!! :laughs:


i think its the other way aound... see i even have your pic from jail when you kept 51 insted of 50 scup!

How can I guy that looks like this catch anything at all???:laughs:

Originally posted by macojoe
How can I guy that looks like this catch anything at all???:laughs:


DITO!

:smash: :laughs: :laughs: :laughs:

Thats a hard working guy getting ready to clean his catch!!

You don't have a pic like that cause all you clean at the end of the day is the gel coat on the boat !!

least my boat is clean

Clean cause no fish!!

You wait till the end of this next seaso!! I will have pleanty of pic of you.

here ya go

another waitin to be cleaned... there are No fish in plymouth!

Wooden fish don't count!! That thing is as stiff as a board?? What you do take it out for a week at a time so it looks like you catch something?????

turned into a board after seeing you:laughs:

Yea I heard your Uncle takes you out tere to show you were they are! Thoses are babys!!

nice fish
:D

next season we will be slamin em :) or should i say i will be slamin em

Yea you will be getting some because you will be following me around!!

look at the gutt on that.....whats it been eating scup or fluke...proably fluke:hee:;)

Originally posted by macojoe
Yea you will be getting some because you will be following me around!!

you got that right :rolleyes:

I love both!! :happy:

joe you going this weekend?

I never bought tickets as i did not know what was going on with my neck and stuff.
I guess i will have to call John R and see if there any left??

there gatta be a few left for you and the fam

I will pm him, and tell him to put it on your Tab!!
:laughs:

:vamp: :vamp: :vamp: :buds: i put my tickets on your tab.

Bloo- I gotta say that scups do stink. They smell like salty urine if not properly iced in the cooler. Herring, macks, and bunkers are far worst ones I ever used.
I got a question for you. I read this thread that some dudes here use scups in July-August or spring, but I have a problem with that. I don't own a boat. And I lose my opportunity to liveline a scup on a beach or a jetty in the hot and boiling months because of the bathers. Is there another alternative time for using scups for bass?

GF- I know a guy who used scup chunks to catch blues and stripers on the canal, onset, and Monomoy. BF, you already have met him, Ray Ramos.;) This guy is like a deaf fishing guru to me. He might make a trip to the cape this year, BF.

Bloo- I gotta say that scups do stink. They smell like salty urine if not properly iced

All fish will end up smelling like #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&s urine "if not properly iced"...:laughs:

About the alternate times, what's wrong with September and October?? If bathers bother you, you need to change your times to dusk & dawn rather than 10am - 3pm....the preferred fishing times anyhooo....not to mention big scuppers for table fare,,,,my bigger shore scuppers come as the sun cracks the horizon. I'm not familiar with your hood...but if you think hot summer water is your problem, find somewhere deeper or use a longer rod for more distance with a 3oz stinker............but, I've snorkeled in 4-5 feet of water while scup were swimming all around me, eating all the life I shook up from the bottom while looking for Clammdigger. :D....in (July).

Bloo I was mixed in with the BLOOOOOOOOOOOFish

last summer I cought a sea bisquit on a SS needlefish one morning in newport-I think he was trying to pick up the teaser-
I haven't done much scup livelining, the last time was at the MV derby in 2002 in the west chop rip and picked up a monster fluke-twas a pleasant surprise