Where Does Scup Live?

Scup lives in specific habitats. Knowing where to look helps you find and identify it.

Where to find Scup

Water type

saltwater

Depth

Typically found in depths ranging from shallow coastal waters (a few meters) to offshore banks up to 120 meters (400 feet). Juveniles often inhabit shallower estuaries and bays.

Environment

Demersal, preferring sandy, gravelly, or rocky bottoms, often near structures like reefs, wrecks, and mussel beds. They are also found over mud bottoms. They tolerate a wide range of salinities and temperatures.

Geographic range

Western Atlantic Ocean, from Nova Scotia, Canada, south to North Carolina, USA. Most abundant from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

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