To get kids interested in saltwater fishing, one needs only provide one thing- consistent action. When hunting for the big game glamour species on Cape Cod- striped bass, bluefish, tuna , etc, the long intervals of no action that go along with that kind of fishing can quickly lead to apathy and disinterest in the fishing process. Switching gears and trying some scup fishing can save an otherwise " boring" fishing trip.
Scup or Porgy’s, are a type of saltwater fish found in nearly every saltwater body on Cape Cod.They are sort of like the salt water version of the fresh water yellow perch or bluegill.
In late April, early May, they move from offshore waters and migrate inshore once the water temperatures hit the 50's. Tidal Estuaries, harbor docks, jetties are all spring/ summer perfect habitat for scup.
Besides the panfish style action they provide, the real bonus is scup are actually one of the most delicious fish that swim in Cape waters. Because of their relatively diminutive size, they are a little bit harder to fillet than a 40 inch striped bass, but they are definitely worth the extra effort.
Once you figure out where scup like to be, you are not apt to find just a couple, rather you are likely to find a whole pile of them. They are truly a school fish and that makes it particularly great for kids. As long as the tide is moving where you are fishing, scup should be active feeders.
On appropriately downsized freshwater style tackle, these fish put up a pretty good fight for their size too. In most of the popular shore spots on Cape Cod, the average size you will find will be 8-12 inches, but boat fishing off the wrecks and reefs can produce fish as large as 18 inches. They don't just roll over and die like a freshly stocked trout ...it can be a shockingly good fight when you hook one over 12 inches.
To catch scup, you need only lite rods, reels and terminal tackle..it just need be stout enough to handle whatever size sinker is required to hold bottom in a current.
The basic idea is the same, you have a sinker to hold your line to the bottom, and the bait ( sea worms, squid or clams- sea worms are the most popular) suspended above it. I like the High/Low rig because you can use two hooks, one high, and one low. It’s tied using a long piece of leader. You’ll need to tie two dropper loops on the leader and a surgeon’s loop on each end. The one end can then get snapped to main line using a snap swivel. The other end of the line you can just loop on a sinker. I prefer the pyramid ones. On the dropper loops, you can just thread on some #2 barbed, bait-holder hooks. Or you can just buy the whole rig already made here.
Then, just throw your line in and let it sit. Before long you should see your rod tip begin to bounce. On a good day and in a good spot, it’s pretty likely you can catch your limit and fill your freezer with fresh meat. It’s a fun way to harvest a delicious meal for only the cost of worms and hooks.
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