Scup / Porgie ?

[Goose]

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

[MakoMike]

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.

[striprman]

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

[Mike P]

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

[Clammer]

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 ================================================== ================================================== =====

[macojoe]

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.

[Goose]

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?

[Clammer]

???????????????

[nor-easter]

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.

[Notaro]

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.

[cheferson]

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?

[macojoe]

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

Here is some live scup fish from 2003

[macojoe]

[macojoe]

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

[fishweewee]

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. 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

[tlapinski]

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. as soon as i put on an eel i was into bass. these were scup caught by a friend....

[fishweewee]

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

[tlapinski]

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......

[macojoe]

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.

[Goose]

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.

[missing link]

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

[Mike P]

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.

[missing link]

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 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 ''

Jr Link

[bloocrab]

..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?? ...or better yet,,,,FINICKY!!

[Goose]

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.

[bloocrab]

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 ......they must have better personal hygiene.....

[The Dad Fisherman]

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

[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.

[goosefish]

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.

[RIROCKHOUND]

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....