How to Fish for Porgy: The Complete Guide for 2024

Sep 20, 2024 | 7 minute read
Reading Time: 7 minutes

Ah, Porgy—the bread and butter of American fishing. These fish aren’t big, beautiful, nor hard to catch, but they’re plentiful and delicious. If you grew up on the East Coast, chances are you’ve heard of them. You may have even filled a cooler by going Porgy fishing!

A photo of an angler standing on a Montauk charter fishing boat and proudly showing off his Porgy catches
Photo courtesy of North Fork Adventures Charters

Porgy are the most prolific fish on the Atlantic coast. In fact, they were the most common catch during colonial times, making America’s Porgy fishery one of the oldest in the country. In New England, they’re more commonly known as “Scup,” an adaptation of the Narragansett Indian word for them: Mishscuppaug.

Despite their excellent food value, Porgy’s ubiquity led many chefs to regard them as trash fish for decades. However, they make an excellent meal and their filets can be used as a stand-in for Red Snapper. What’s more, these fish are relatively easy to catch, making them an ideal target for beginners or families looking for a bit of fun with the kids.

So, what exactly is Porgy, and how can you go about stocking your freezer with some? Let’s find out…

How to Identify Porgy

The name “Porgy” refers to an array of fish throughout the world which belong to the family Sparidae. There are roughly 100 species in this family of Porgy and Seabreams, which come in many colors and go by many names.

A man in a gillet and sunglasses stands aboard a fishing charter in Cyprus and holds a small Porgy fish to the camera on a clear day
Photo courtesy of SEAze The Day

Porgies are flat, deep-bodied fish with a single spiny dorsal fin. They have large heads and elongated faces, which makes them look perpetually worried. Peek between those pouting lips and you’ll find strong molars used to crush the hard-shelled morsels they feed on. As a saltwater Panfish, they resemble freshwater species like Crappie and really do look ready to flop into a frying pan! 

Porgy typically weigh just 3–4 pounds. They can measure up to 18 inches, though most will be around 6 inches long.

You’ll find Porgy in the US from Massachusetts to South Carolina, with smaller numbers appearing all the way down in Florida. Several species are native to this range, including Sheepshead. In addition to Porgy and Scup, they may also be called Seabream, Ironsides, or Maiden. In some areas, locals have adopted more specific terms to describe Porgy of different sizes, such as a small Sand Porgy (half a pound) and Sea Porgy (close 3 pounds).

Globally, Porgy is the common name for any fish which belongs to the family Sparidae. In European and Australian waters, they’re also called Bream or Sea Bream. This includes species such as Dentex, Common Pandora, Black Bream, and Gilt-head Bream. Australian Snapper also belongs to this family of fish.

Best Porgy Fishing Spots

Porgy migrate from deep offshore waters to bays, coastal reefs, and rocky shorelines, making them accessible to anglers with or without a boat. While they swim along much of the East Coast, some communities make much more sport out of Porgy fishing than others. For anyone looking to dabble in America’s historic Scup fishery, there are a few choice locations:

Cape Cod, Massachusetts 

An aerial photo of the Cape Cod, its greenery, and sandy beaches against the blue surrounding waters

Come June, the waters surrounding Cape Cod are full of Scup. Don’t make the mistake of waiting until then, however, because May sometimes sees jumbos as large as 3 pounds. Needless to say, the Scup season draws anglers from miles around. The best fishing spots are just south of the Cape, throughout Buzzard’s Bay, Vineyard Sound, and Nantucket Sound. Whether fishing aboard a charter vessel or casting your line from shore, you can participate in some of New England’s hottest Porgy fishing until fall.  

Scup season in Massachusetts opens May 1 and the possession limit is 30 fish. The minimum size limit for any fish caught by shore angling is 9.5 inches, while fish caught aboard a vessel must be at least 11 inches.

Long Island, New York

A view across the bay from a fishing pier on Long Island towards a bridge in the distance on a clear day

Porgy season hits Long Island in summer, with the hottest fishing in August and September. Some spots even see great fishing into fall. There’s no shortage of Porgy fishing charters around here, from Brooklyn to Montauk. On the island’s south shore, you’re likely to set sail around Sheepshead Bay, Jamaica Bay, Rockaway Beach, Coney Island, and down the Jersey Shore. To the north, the Long Island Sound boasts equally good Porgy fishing. Hire a local captain to take you fishing at hot spots like the Middle Grounds, Mount Misery Shoals, and Execution Light.

Porgy fishing in New York opens in May and runs through the end of the year. There’s a bag limit of 40 fish for anglers fishing aboard a licensed charter boat. Any Porgy you wish to keep while fishing from a boat must be 11 inches or longer.

Wildwood State Park, New York

A view along the beach at Wildwood State Park in New York on a sunny day

This park on Long Island’s north shore gets a special shout-out for some of the best Porgy surf fishing. Anglers can indulge in 2 miles of beach hugging the Long Island Sound, where the bite is often best at first light. There’s a bag limit of 30 fish for shore anglers, and any fish you keep must be at least 9.5 inches.

As a flagship facility, Wildwood State Park offers plenty of family activities beyond the surf such as hiking, camping, sports fields, basketball courts, and weekly movie screenings in July and August. So bring the whole family and let them have their fun while you have yours. 

Florida

A view of the Jacksonville Riverwalk at sunset, with the St. Johns River visible to the left of the photo and numerous buildings in the distance

Though not as iconic or plentiful past the Carolinas, you can still catch several species of Porgy off the coast of Florida. Aside from Sheepshead, none of these are particularly coveted and you won’t see much dedicated charter fishing for them. However, they’re common as bycatch and make a great addition to the cooler full of fish you’re hauling home.  

Open seasons as well as size and bag limits for Porgy in Florida depend on the species. Many are not subject to strict regulations, with the exception of Red Porgy and Sheepshead.

How to Fish for Porgy

Hooking these bottom feeders doesn’t require any fancy technique. Usually, it comes down to bottom fishing over reefs, inshore banks, or around structures like bridges and piers. This makes Porgy a great target for novice anglers, especially kids.

A man in a baseball cap standing in front of the console of a boat in New York State and holding a sizeable Porgy with calm waters visible behind him on a grey day
Photo courtesy of North Fork Adventures Charters

Despite the simplicity of it, you’ll be surprised by how much these fish can fight. They’re aggressive eaters that pack a punch once hooked, making the experience a lot of fun. 

Porgy feed on hard-shelled critters like crabs and clams, as well as worms, squid, and jellyfish. You’ll find them foraging for mussels in areas where rocks and reefs give way to a sandy bottoms. This means casting your line adjacent to underwater structure, rather than directly in it. When fishing in deeper water, mix up your approach with some vertical jigging. Stirring up the sand with your bait or lure can sometimes catch the attention of any stand-offish fish.

Porgy Fishing Gear

Porgy are small and feisty, so plan to bring light tackle. Remember, these are basically Panfish, so you can even pack your freshwater fishing gear if you want. Be sure to adjust for saltwater conditions, which are rougher, and be prepared to hook bigger bycatch than you would while fishing a lake.

Rods and Reels

A man in an orange pullover and hat struggling offshore with a light-action rod

While you can rely on a fairly simple set-up, your rod selection will be key. It needs to be sensitive enough to fish small lures yet substantial enough to handle any bigger bycatch that take a bite. 

You’ll want to reach for something light and sturdy. But that doesn’t mean the rod should be stiff. Choose a 5–7′ light or medium action rod that will absorb the shock of each hit you get from these fish.

Pair your rod with a 1000–2500 spinning reel that has a smooth drag system (again, this will allow you to handle any larger fish that come along) and spool your reel with 6–10 lb braided line. Finish off with a 6–10′ leader of either mono or fluorocarbon in the 6–8 lb test range.

Bait and Lures

A pile of cut up clams on a board, prepared for use as chum

Worms and squid make some of the best Porgy bait, but plenty of anglers also swear by clam pieces. Here’s a pro tip: leave a bit of belly on there when you cut your clams into strips!

You can also catch Porgy on artificials. In fact, it’s not uncommon to use freshwater lures that work on other Panfish. Metal jigs, lipless crankbaits, and blade baits are all effective

Vibes are ideal when fishing in shallows less than 15 feet, while blades are more appropriate for deeper water due to their weight and the fact that they sink more quickly. Both these lures are best used in sandy areas where you won’t hit as many snags. For areas with a rocky or weedy bottom, fish soft plastics instead.

When to Catch Porgy 

Generally speaking, the window for Porgy fishing runs from April to October. In some states, like Massachusetts and New York, the season to catch and keep these fish opens May 1. Plenty of anglers will tell you the best fishing begins in June and lasts through September. By October, these fish have usually moved offshore and started heading south. State-regulated seasons for Porgy typically close after December 31.

Porgy: The Little Fish with a Big Appeal

A boy in a NASA hoodie smiling and posing for a photo with a Porgy he caught, the fish is dangling off the line in his right hand, while he's holding his fishing rod in his left.
Photo courtesy of Bridgeport Fishing Charters

Whether you’re a freshwater angler looking to dabble in the big pond of the Atlantic, or someone entirely new to sportfishing, Porgy fit the bill. These saltwater Panfish don’t require much experience or fancy gear to get started, and they make for a great time on the water. 

They’re prolific yet delicious, small but hard-fighting—and, unassuming as they look, they played a significant role in feeding early US settlements. Needless to say, Porgy will surprise you in more ways than one.

Have you ever landed a Porgy? Was it deliberate or was it by-catch? Whatever your story, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

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Jacqueline grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, always with an eye on the horizon to try and spot a shark fin. As a member of the FishingBooker team, she got to know the charter fishing industry by helping hundreds of captains market their trips online. She has also spent countless hours answering the internet’s most pressing questions about fish, such as: how do you tell all the different Salmon species apart? With 7 years of content marketing experience behind her, she eventually returned to her roots to focus on raising a family (and write about fish some more).

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