Massachusetts state waters, out to 3 miles
Shore minimum 9.5 in; 150-fish vessel cap when 5+ anglers aboard; fillet-not-skin rule at sea.
MA DMF 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Massachusetts state record
MA DMF Saltwater Game Fish Records · checked 2026-09-04
How to tell it
Small northern porgy; dusky fins, concave forehead. More on the scup page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for scup in Massachusetts?
11" vessel / 9.5" shore. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many scup can you keep in Massachusetts?
30 fish (for-hire 40 May 1-Jun 30).
When is scup season in Massachusetts?
May 1 - Dec 31. As of Sep 21, 2026 it is open.
What is the Massachusetts record scup?
5 lb 14 oz, Nomans Land Island (1983).
How current is this Massachusetts scup rule?
Source: MA DMF 2026, last checked Sep 7, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
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