Scup (Stenotomus chrysops) are a migratory, schooling species found on the continental

shelf of the Northwest Atlantic, commonly inhabiting waters from Cape Cod,

Massachusetts to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The abundance of scup in a specific

area is frequently influenced by water temperature. Scup prefer temperatures greater

than 45 degrees F and are most frequently encountered in water temperatures from

55 to 77 degrees F.

 

Scup overwinter in offshore waters from southern New Jersey to Cape Hatteras. When

water temperatures begin to rise in spring and summer scup migrate to more northern

and inshore waters to spawn. Spawning areas include locations from southern New

England to Long Island, New York. Large fish arrive to the spawning grounds first,

followed by successive waves of smaller individuals, suggesting that scup school by size.

Larval scup are pelagic and are found in coastal waters during warmer months.

Juvenile scup use a variety of coastal habitats and can dominate the overall fish

population in large estuarine areas during the summer months. - ASMFC