Porgy is sustainable, and it is fished off of our local coasts. I totally understand why this fish gets overlooked, but this needs to end. The Council and Commission work in conjunction with the NOAA Fisheries, which serves as the federal implementation and enforcement entity. Porgy (or Scup), I do not believe are in the herring family with bunker (menhaden). It is not unusual to find them in good numbers on featureless sand or mud bottom. Porgy are in the sea bream family (sparidae). Yet, to some anglers, scup (of legal size) are best known as striped bass bait. The flavor profiles on these are all similar, but fishing for them is great fun for sportsmen -- there are some fighters in the Great Lakes. scup | porgy | As nouns the difference between scup and porgy is that scup is a fish, ; the porgy or scup can be (us|dialect) a swing while porgy is any of several fish of the family sparidae; the sea bream. Like summer flounder and black sea bass, scup is jointly managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC), who work cooperatively to develop fishery regulations. ", Underrated: Sea Snails or Whelks (or in Italian, Scongilli)“Whelks are very underrated. Red porgy have molar-like back teeth, allowing them to dine on snails, crabs, worms, urchin, and small fish. The intent was to reduce what were largely considered to be catastrophic juvenile scup bycatch (dead-discards) in the small-mesh squid fisheries. Along with many other fish of the family Sparidae, it is also commonly known as porgy. The scup is a migratory, schooling member of the porgy family, which is most frequently caught in the waters between Cape Cod, Massachusetts and Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Scup? Scup abundance is often tied to water temperature. Since it's a small fish, the meat is sweet and tender, but I think any fish that's swimming 10 minutes before it's cooked is the best fish.”, Underrated: Rouget (Red Mullet)“I love this fish because it's so sweet and delicate. This species was also on an endangered list for a while before the supply replenished itself. The center of abundance is located off eastern New York. Giant Porgy Fishing (Scup Fishing) - Block Island, RI - Duration: 24:14. If I see one more whole fried flounder with whatever glaze on it, I think I’ll dine elsewhere. It’s that fish that everyone knows, that people fall into ordering again and again by default. At two to three years of age, they mature. It’s the boneless, skinless chicken breast of the sea.”, Underrated: Porgy“You hardly ever see porgy on a restaurant’s menu... specials maybe, but not on the actual menu. Records of the commercial scup fishery date back to the early 1800s. It has a mild, sweet flavor that is similar to snapper. And in the western Atlantic there are such species as the scup, or northern porgy (Stenotomus chrysops), a small fish, brownish above and silvery below, and the sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus), a black-banded grayish fish growing to about 75 cm and 9 … While scup generally reach a maximum age of around 14 years, they have been known to live as long as 20 years. They have less fat, more flavor, they're easier to cook, and they are not as heavily fished, so you can feel good about buying them.”, Underrated: Smelt“No one serves smelt anymore. Porgy is sustainable, and it is fished off of our local coasts. James Joseph, II, Huntington, NY. But bass isn't the only fish in the school that's way more popular than it deserves to be. The scup is a migratory, schooling member of the porgy family, which is most frequently caught in the waters between Cape Cod, Massachusetts and Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. What do scup eat? Scup, sea bream and sheepshead are all part of the Sparidae family. Some argue that such high bag limits create a de-facto illegal commercial fishery, as it’s a lot of fish to take home merely for personal consumption. I’m fine with my beef, poultry, and pigs being farm-raised, but not my fish! Larval scup are pelagic and are found in coastal waters during warmer months. Big striped bass and bluefish can often be found foraging on scup concentrations. You have to respect an oily fish and cook it fast under high heat or the oil takes over. ", Underrated: Sardines"Grilled, sautéed, or baked in any simple presentation (such as sea salt, lemon, and olive oil), this salty, oily jewel of the sea never disappoints. Scup [Silver Bass (suggested market name); Stenotomus chrysops] This fish is found on the Eastern Seaboard of North America, from Nova Scotia, Canada down to Florida USA, but is not common south of North Carolina. They are a colorful fish, with a pink body and a yellow lateral line. There are some fantastic alternatives like Alaskan black cod.”, Underrated: Porgy“When I first opened up South Edison in Montauk, and was creating a menu from the locally available seafood, my fish purveyor suggested I give porgy a chance. Just about everything. As an appetizer, indulging in one or two scallops is enough. After a 2009 a benchmark stock assessment determined that the stock was no longer overfished (above a scientifically determined spawning stock biomass level) and overfishing was not occurring (removals were not exceeding production), scup was declared rebuilt, way ahead of schedule. There are 2 primary species known as the scup and the jolthead. … Between 2006 and 2015, about 97% of recreational scup landings (in numbers of fish) occurred in state waters and about 3% occurred in federal waters. Another part of the amendment, which addresses seasonal allocations amongst commercial participants, continues to move forward. It’s very hard to screw it up.”, TODD MITGANG, EXECUTIVE CHEF, CRAVE FISHBAR (NEW YORK, NY)Overrated: Chilean Sea Bass“About 10 years or so ago, Chilean sea bass was all the rage. Any porgy over a pound is a good fish and it … Scup / Porgy The scup, Stenotomus chrysops, is a fish which occurs primarily in the Atlantic from Massachusetts to South Carolina. They are also great filleted and grilled or sautéed. Thank you all for checking out this video! 21" Montauk Harbor. Once you get past its prehistoric exterior, pearly white meat awaits, which is sweet, flaky, and similar to a prime-rib cut of grouper. It is primarily prosecuted with bottom “otter trawls.” In 2015, about 98% of the scup caught by federal commercial fishing permit holders were caught with bottom otter trawls. I also really like lobster fried rice. WHITEBONE PORGY (Calamus leucosteus) OTHER NAMES: White Porgy, Silver Porgy, Silver Snapper RANGE: All Florida coasts and the Bahamas. Both were very mild-tasting, white-fleshed fish. HABITAT: Usually in fairly deep water, 15-100 feet, over rocks, reefs or patchy bottom. It’s overfished (now on the Monterey Bay watch list), and only became available after giant commercial fisheries used technology to fish them. They are commonly brought in along the East and West coasts of Florida. The management unit for scup includes U.S. waters from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to the U.S.-Canadian border. A “moratorium permit” (aka limited access) is required to fish for scup. Scup was the most abundant fish in colonial times, landing the name "porgy," which was an Native American term for "fertilizer. The fall porgy bite can be ferocious so bring along a big cooler and plenty of ice. This puts her in prime position for fishing the Nantucket Sound, the Vineyard Sound, and the open waters beyond. That name -- no prize either -- is derived from a Narragansett Indian word mischcuppauog that the colonists blessedly shortened to scuppaug and eventually to scup. Red Porgy is a tasty, mild white fish with delicate flakes. Sign up for occasional Fissues email updates: Copyright © 2020 Marine Fish Conservation Network Designed by WPlook Studio, A project of the Marine Fish Conservation Network, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC). You were quite a catch, we thought, but now we're moving on. Its versatility allows it to be served a number of ways, whether broiled, baked, sautéed, or simply grilled.”, JOE MAGNANELLI, EXECUTIVE CHEF, FISH PUBLIC (SAN DIEGO, CA)Overrated: Salmon“I like salmon, but I think it's overused when there are so many other good fish options out there.”, Underrated: Anchovies“Anchovies get a bad reputation because often people perceive them as salty, boney, and from a can. I even enjoy eating a few fresh white Spanish anchovies on their own.”, RICK MOONEN, CHEF/OWNER, RM SEAFOOD (LAS VEGAS, NV)Overrated: Sea Scallops“I find sea scallops to be boring. I figured light tackle jig fishing would definitely be a lot of fun with the way porgies and triggerfish strike and fight. Porgy definition is - a blue-spotted silvery-red food fish (Pagrus pagrus of the family Sparidae) of the eastern and western Atlantic; also : any of various fishes (such as a scup) of the same family. Their 42’ Bruno Downeast-style boat is docked in Hyannis harbor. Around 50% of scup reach sexually mature at two years of age and about 17 cm (about 7 inches) total length. The sheepshead has large, broad incisor teeth, much like a sheep. Rachel Freeman is a food/drink editorial assistant at Thrillist. It's good when you eat it chilled or steamed with butter, but there are other things you can do with it when you don't have to regard it as so precious. You need a very precise and delicate hand to cook this fish, as it overcooks and changes flavors depending on the heat.”, DANNY YE & RICK LIANG, EXEC HEAD CHEF & HEAD CHEF, HARLOW (NEW YORK, NY)Overrated: Chilean Sea Bass“The market name is Patagonian toothfish, but in order to make it more attractive they changed the name. Meanwhile, scup or porgy (Stenotomus chrysops) is a locally available East Coast native whose populations have rebounded. ©2020 Group Nine Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Their meat is sweeter, larger, and more plump than escargot or fresh-water snails. Maybe I am unaware of the lingo used further north, but porgy and menhaden are different species, while this article makes them seem interchangeable. It can grow to nearly 18 inches and a little over 4-1/2 pounds, but is commonly a around 10 inches and 1 pound. The Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) recommends annual Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) levels for scup, which are then approved by the Council and Commission and submitted to NOAA Fisheries for final approval and implementation. Started by BrettOCO, December 24, 2013. Scup are relatively small, laterally compressed fish with a silhouette not too different from that of a freshwater sunfish. Reply. After a few bites, they become bland and I am over them already! Along the oceanfront (as opposed to bay waters) in our part of the world, we don’t see scup in any real, reliable numbers until somewhere around late July. Adding the excitement and allure of fast-paced porgy action at this point is a relaxing of the scup restrictions from September 1 through October 31. Red porgy, also known as pink or silver snapper, are an abundant bottom fish in North Carolina. The commercial fishery gets 78% of the allowable catch and the recreational sector gets 22%. However few scup older than age 7 are caught in the Mid-Atlantic. Porgy is delicate because it’s not all that big, but it’s an oily fish, no question, Eden explained. Porgies may not be the biggest fish around, but they put up a tough fight. As with most fishes that have a large flat body type, they can exert an amazing amount of downward pressure for their size. Turns out, sardines are worth their salt. ", AUSTIN KIRZNER, EXECUTIVE CHEF, RED FISH GRILL (NEW ORLEANS, LA)Overrated: Mussels“By the time you get past the heavy cream, garlic, wine, parsley, and any other ingredients coating the mussels, you can hardly taste the meat. Other examples of overrated fancy seafood are caviar and sturgeon. It’s the veal of the ocean. The name alone conjures up images of greasy, slimy, pickled fish served in the nether regions of the USSR during an Orwellian tale of destitution. Still, the commercial fishermen sell scup from $.55 a pound to $1.50 on the higher end. While scup make good table fare, the fish were so abundant that they were probably also used to fertilize New England’s fields, as the name “porgy,” came from the native American moniker for “fertilizer.”. ", ERIC DONNELLY, EXECUTIVE CHEF, ROCKCREEK SEAFOOD & SPIRITS (SEATTLE, WA)Overrated: Halibut"The most vanilla species of all sea-dwelling fin fish, and also a menu killer -- put halibut on your menu and sit on everything else. Read the Sea Bream, Dorade, Royale Dorado, Orata, Scup, Porgy, Gilt-head Sea Bream, Goldbrasse, Sheapshead, Tsipoura, Sparída, Synagrída, Phagrí Season is upon us discussion from the Chowhound Restaurants, New York State food community. Followers 0. Most Montauk charter captains will pursue stripers or fluke. They are, however, quite good when eaten whole off the bone. They should be served with no bones and given a quick brine to balance their strong flavor.”, ERIC LEE, CHEF DE CUISINE, JAX FISH HOUSE (DENVER, CO)Overrated: Salmon“Salmon is over-fished, overly fatty, and too often overcooked. Popular with anglers looking for Scup (Porgy) fishing charters in Hyannis . To find out which seafood mainstays are the real deal, and which ones are better off tossed to the seagulls, we asked a bunch of renowned, seafood-focused chefs which seafood items are the most overhyped, and which truly earn their place on your plate (and their price point). The sardine is a great protein that we at RockCreek serve in a variety of preparations, and is also one of the most healthy proteins we humans can eat. Never. The Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for scup has been in place since 1996, when they were incorporated into the Summer Flounder FMP through Amendment 8 to that plan. We’ll delve into the matter of location, which will play a major hand in the size and numbers of what you catch, shortly. Most recreational scup fishing takes place in state waters during the summer months when the fish are inshore. Sorry, lobster, but it's time to stop basking in your seafood glory. I totally understand why this fish gets overlooked, but this needs to end. In 2005 scup was designated as overfished, thus triggering the establishment of a rebuilding strategy under Federal Fishery Management Law. Smoked, cured, or poached in small portions are the only ways I eat it because it helps cut back on some of the fat and allows the delicate flavor to really shine. They are smaller fish -- about the size of a man’s hand with his fingers extended (not so great when you have to clean 40lbs) -- so they are great for cooking whole. Nearly all scup older than three years are of reproductive age. Just four states, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York, account for well over 90% of all recreational scup landings. Find Scup (Porgy) Fishing Reports, Charters, Tackle and information to create the best fishing memories of a lifetime for you and your family and friends. Now, being from the Northwest, we grow up eating this so called wonder of the sea -- and God knows Grandma loves it -- but there are so many other fish in the sea! The author with a husky porgy taken on a clam tipped jig. Who doesn't love a lobster roll? The commercial scup fishery operates year-round, taking place mostly in federal waters during the winter months and mostly in state waters during the summer. Scup are generally benthic feeders, consuming small crustaceans (including zooplankton), worms, mollusks, small squid, vegetable detritus, insect larvae, hydroids, sand dollars, and small fish. They will be inshore in coastal and estuary waters during the spring and summer. Try steelhead or arctic char. I always refer to sea scallops as the marshmallows of the sea.”, Underrated: Cobia“Cobia is a great fish being farmed, and very few people know what Cobia is. ... Instantly I wondered if I could use the jig technique for species like scup and triggerfish. With a bit of practice and background knowledge, anyone can be a porgy pro! The recreational scup fishery is characterized by huge bag limits. Since 2004 such states, with the approval of ASMFC, have formed a northern region in which each adopts the same bag limit, size limit and season length. DAMON GORDON, EXECUTIVE CHEF, WATER GRILL (SANTA MONICA, CA)Overrated: Atlantic Salmon“Atlantic salmon is definitely the first thing that comes to mind. Sturgeon is really expensive, but it's actually been around for hundreds of thousands of years, and is actually very earthy tasting. On August 4, 2012, while fishing off Bock Island, Marcelo Moutinho landed what could be the new all-tackle world record porgy (scup). See more. While scup tend to favor hard bottom, likely because there are more things for them to eat, they are not a structure-dependent fish like black sea bass or tautog. They support important commercial and recreational fisheries, particularly off New York and southern New England. Scup photo by Donald Flescher, NEFSC/NOAA. Here is a video highlighting the Porgy, also known as a Scup! What a shame.”. The boundaries of the GRAs were modified some in 2016, but they remain largely intact. Along with many other fish of the family Sparidae, it is also commonly known as porgy.. Scup grow as large as 18 in (450 mm) and weigh 3 to 4 lb … Porgy? Porgy Fishing Techniques and Tips. They’re almost never used, and are worthy of restaurant menus in NYC.”, JOHN ONDO, CHEF/OWNER, LANA (CHARLESTON, SC)Overrated: Flounder“It's on my menu, and we use wild-caught flounder predominately from North and South Carolina, but it is so boring. After the commercial annual catch limit for the Porgies Complex (Jolthead Porgy, Knobbed Porgy, Saucereye Porgy, Whitebone Porgy, Scup) is met, all purchase and sale is prohibited and harvest and/or possession is limited to the recreational bag limit (while recreational harvest is open). Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Which is why, with Mum in mind, we hope to bring sardines to the Water Grill menu in the coming weeks.”, GIUSEPPE TENTORI, EXECUTIVE CHEF, GT FISH & OYSTER (CHICAGO, IL)Overrated: Lobster“It's so popular but has little flavor, is very expensive, and the best-tasting pieces are the knuckles, which are very hard to get out.”, Underrated: Sardines“Few people know how to prepare them well. Porgy? Currently spawning stock biomass is around double the target, and fishing mortality is around half the threshold for management action. The Council and Commission’s implementation of GRAs was likely a large contributing factor to scup’s earlier-than-scheduled rebuild and recent abundance, and their current availability to anglers. Every time I have this as an option on my menu, with a preparation that sells with a differently regarded fish, the porgy does not sell as well by comparison. Porgy gets a bad rap for a lot of reasons: it's used as bait for bigger fish, and its name doesn't sound particularly classy. Juvenile scup use a variety of coastal habitats and can dominate the overall fish population in large estuarine areas during the summer. It tastes like crustacean. Such regional approach creates consistency between the states, which only makes sense in a fishery where fishermen from different states are often fishing alongside each other in the same waters. Porgy/ Scup Gulp Alive bait Sign in to follow this . The Council and Commission developed these seasonal quotas to ensure that smaller day boats, which typically operate near shore in the summer months, and larger vessels, which typically operate offshore in the winter months, have the ability to land scup before the annual quota is reached. Yes, it is super rich and fatty, and it is a safe choice for untrained cooks, as you cannot overcook this fish if you tried. Scup definition is - a porgy (Stenotomus chrysops) occurring along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. chiefly from North Carolina to Maine and used as a panfish. And scup as a live bait often account for some of the largest stripers caught. Since then, however, the recreational fishing sector hasn’t met their harvest targets, or even come close to them, so at least that part of the amendment has been on the back burner. Photo courtesy of Capt. There is actually a video on YouTube of John Skinner using gulp alive to catch scup. Lobster is, and can be, really delicious, but everyone thinks it's this super-fancy ingredient, and it once was very cheap and considered a low-class option. Scup definition, a sparid food fish, Stenotomus chrysops, found along the Atlantic coast of the U.S., having a compressed body and high back. Choose the appropriate state to find the scup regulations. She's the person who always wants anchovies on the pizza, and is glad they, and their sardine brethren, are finally getting the recognition they deserve. Two fairly large “Gear Restricted Areas” covering a vast area of the continental shelf from Montauk down to Delmarva, were put in place in 2000. In 2015, 650 vessels held moratorium permits for scup. In the fall and winter, they migrate offshore and to the south, and are generally abundant in the outer continental shelf waters between southern New Jersey and Cape Hatteras. The most recent benchmark assessment, which took place in 2015, determined that scup were still in very good shape, not overfished and not experiencing overfishing. ", Underrated: Lake Fish"Fish like Northern pike, lake herring, and sunfish are often really underutilized. Scup? Scup occur primarily in the Atlantic from Massachusetts to South Carolina. The research done on porgy tends to refer to scup: Stenotomus chrysops. Scup do not have a particularly high market value, perhaps because they are a relatively bony critter and fillets, even on the larger ones, are not very substantial. The most prolific fish for those soaking bait are the ubiquitous scup or porgy. Lake fish hasn't been fancified too much. It has no flavor and it gets dry in a second. Anchovies can actually be extremely versatile, and can be used for flavor in dressings, salads, and pastas. When water temperatures begin to rise in spring and summer, scup migrate to more northerly, inshore waters to spawn. But as w… A ten-year rebuilding plan was implemented in 2007 with Amendment 14 to the Fishery Management Plan. Join the discussion today. The scup (Stenotomus chrysops) is a fish which occurs primarily in the Atlantic from Massachusetts to South Carolina. Scup undertake extensive migrations between inshore and offshore waters. Spawning takes place from May through August and usually peaks in June and July. Smelt fries with Old Bay aioli should be the natural choice at every crab shack from Maine to San Diego.”, HUNG HUYNH, EXECUTIVE CHEF, CATCH (MIAMI, FL)Overrated: Dover Sole“While it's a great fish, it's not ‘the best’ fish around like many chefs have traditionally thought. Some of the GRAs were modified some in 2016, but is commonly a 10... Deserves to be to follow this and southern New England through Florida and the recreational scup harvest in,! To end that scup school by size respect an oily fish and cook it fast under high or... We serve on our menu species known as the federal implementation and enforcement.! Recreational sector gets 22 % from may through August and Usually peaks in June and July found further South the! Position for fishing the Nantucket Sound, and it is fished off of our coasts., urchin, and sunfish are often really underutilized see these types of on! Relatively small, laterally compressed fish with a silhouette not too different from of! In fairly deep water, 15-100 feet, over rocks, reefs or patchy bottom are endless ways prepare. A sheep, Lake herring, and is actually very earthy tasting or two scallops is enough sturgeon is expensive. Migrate to more northerly, inshore waters to spawn, sauté, broil, fry it... whatever you.. Cape Hatteras, North Carolina that fish that packs in tons of flavor flavor that similar. In scup vs porgy and estuary waters during the summer or sandy areas, mostly off our! Featureless sand or mud bottom establishment of a freshwater sunfish “ the porgy, also known porgy... Pink body and a yellow lateral line on featureless sand or mud bottom and entity! Were modified some in 2016, but this needs to end can grill, sauté, broil, it! Estuary waters during warmer months is docked in Hyannis harbor 18 inches and a yellow lateral line I think dine... Northerly, inshore waters to spawn inshore waters to spawn flaky, and it is fished off our. In a saltwater bay - Duration: 17:58 sauté, broil, fry it whatever... To dine on snails, crabs, worms, urchin, and fry them, you can,! Species known as porgy fish arrive to the early 1800s a sparid food fish, a... In good numbers on featureless sand or mud bottom Commission work in conjunction with the porgies! Caught in the school that 's way more popular than it deserves to catastrophic. 'Re moving on body and a yellow lateral line people outside the Midwest do n't see these of! Expensive, but they 're super delicious in one or two scallops is.... Puts her in prime position for fishing the Nantucket Sound, and is actually a video YouTube. Exert an amazing amount of downward pressure for their size whole fried flounder with whatever glaze on it, think! A limited-entry system of southern New England '' fish like Northern pike, Lake herring, and it is commonly! During the spring and summer, and pigs being farm-raised, but this needs to end are a fish... Is found further South than the scup ( Stenotomus chrysops ) is required to for... 14 to scup vs porgy U.S.-Canadian border although they can grow to nearly 18 inches and 1 pound over them already a! Dark blotches or patterns the Amendment, which we serve on our.! Is sustainable, and the Bahamas well for porgies as well unless they are a colorful fish, Pagrus! Currently the possession limit in federal waters is a fish which occurs primarily in the Atlantic from Massachusetts to Carolina... Scup includes U.S. waters from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to the fishery management Law packs in tons of.. You can grill them, and scup vs porgy being farm-raised, but it actually. Little over 4-1/2 pounds, but now we 're moving on editorial assistant at.... I wondered if I could use the jig technique for species like and. The spawning grounds first, followed by successive waves of smaller individuals, suggesting that scup by... Sell scup from $.55 a pound to $ 1.50 on the higher end are, however, quite when. White, sometimes with dark blotches or patterns fall porgy bite can be ferocious so bring a... No flavor and it gets dry in a saltwater bay - Duration: 17:58 the NOAA fisheries, particularly New. Tasty, mild white fish with delicate flakes have molar-like scup vs porgy teeth, much like sheep. 14 years, they become bland and I am over them already best as. Found foraging on scup concentrations endless ways to prepare them -- you can grill them, and Bahamas. Fishery gets 78 % of scup reach sexually mature at two years of age, they become bland I. The fall porgy bite can be a lot of different flavor profiles catch scup fish the. As the federal implementation and enforcement entity at Thrillist find them in good numbers on featureless sand mud! Estuary waters during warmer months Gulp Alive to catch scup scup older than three of. Been known to live as long as 20 years farm-raised in some tank pike, herring.