2026 regulation year
Rhode Island Scup (porgy) 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Stenotomus chrysops
Last updated
Scup — universally called 'porgy' on the RI coast — is among the most-caught recreational saltwater finfish in Narragansett Bay + Block Island Sound by total numbers landed. RI's scup fishery is one of the most generous in the ASMFC region — the typical RI 2025-26 rule is 10-inch minimum + 30 fish per angler per day on private boats + shore + 50 fish per angler per day on for-hire vessels (the for-hire 'bonus' is unique to RI + NY + NJ + CT under the ASMFC plan's regional management framework, recognizing the species' high abundance off Southern New England). Scup concentrate on rocky bottom + reef + structure tier April – December — the East Passage of Narragansett Bay, Block Island Sound, the Block Island Wind Farm, Cox Ledge, and the south-shore breachways are the densest concentrations. Sand worms + squid + clam bait + small jigs standard. Always confirm current-year RIDEM Marine Fisheries notices — scup regs are reset annually under the ASMFC plan.
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Season
Per annual RIDEM Marine Fisheries notice — typical year-round shore mode + open boat season May 1 – Dec 31. Confirm current year.
– RI ocean + bays — primary boat season
Typical RIDEM boat season — confirm current year
– RI designated shore-mode sites
Shore-mode open year-round on designated sites
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 30 / day per angler (private boat + shore); 50 / day per angler (for-hire boat) — RI 2025-26
- Possession
- 30 in possession (private boat + shore); 50 in possession (for-hire)
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 10 in min (RIDEM 2025-26)
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line; small hooks + bottom rigs + jigs standard
- RI Recreational Saltwater Fishing Licence FREE registry-based ages 16+ — registration required, no fee
- Confirm current-year RIDEM Marine Fisheries notices — for-hire bonus bag may change annually
- Sand worms + squid + clam bait standard
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific Rhode Island waters:
Narragansett Bay
10 in min, 30 / day private + 50 / day for-hire; deep-water structure + jetties + bridges
Narragansett Bay — West Passage
10 in min, 30 / day private + 50 / day for-hire; Plum Point + Dutch Island + Wickford structure
Block Island Sound
10 in min, 30 / day private + 50 / day for-hire; rocky bottom + boulder structure
Block Island Wind Farm
10 in min, 30 / day private + 50 / day for-hire; turbine-base structure magnet
Pt. Judith Pond
10 in min, 30 / day private + 50 / day for-hire; shore + breachway
Charlestown Breachway
10 in min, 30 / day private + 50 / day for-hire; breachway jetty structure
Sakonnet River
10 in min, 30 / day private + 50 / day for-hire; Sakonnet Point structure
Official source
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) — Division of Fish & Wildlife publishes the authoritative 2026 Rhode Islandfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.
The scup (porgy) rules on this page are sourced from Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) — Division of Fish & Wildlife's official scup (porgy) regulation page.
Visit official Rhode Island fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Scup (porgy) closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management's emergency-order feed — check it before any Rhode Island trip during the active season.
Frequently asked questions
- When is scup (porgy) season in Rhode Island?
- Per annual RIDEM Marine Fisheries notice — typical year-round shore mode + open boat season May 1 – Dec 31. Confirm current year. Those are the 2026 Rhode Island dates; always confirm against Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) — Division of Fish & Wildlife before a trip, because an emergency order can shift an opener with little notice.
- What is the Rhode Island bag limit for scup (porgy)?
- The Rhode Island daily bag limit for scup (porgy) is 30 / day per angler (private boat + shore); 50 / day per angler (for-hire boat) — RI 2025-26. The possession limit is 30 in possession (private boat + shore); 50 in possession (for-hire). Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size scup (porgy) can you keep in Rhode Island?
- The Rhode Island size rule for scup (porgy) is 10 in min (RIDEM 2025-26).
- Do you need a license to fish for scup (porgy) in Rhode Island?
- Yes. Rhode Island requires a valid fishing license to fish for scup (porgy), with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Rhode Island license — compare resident and non-resident Rhode Island fees on the state regulations page below.
- Are there gear restrictions for scup (porgy) in Rhode Island?
- Yes. In Rhode Island, scup (porgy) fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; small hooks + bottom rigs + jigs standard; RI Recreational Saltwater Fishing Licence FREE registry-based ages 16+ — registration required, no fee; Confirm current-year RIDEM Marine Fisheries notices — for-hire bonus bag may change annually; Sand worms + squid + clam bait standard.
- Do specific Rhode Island waters have different scup (porgy) rules?
- Yes. 7 named Rhode Island waters carry rules that override the statewide scup (porgy) regulation, including Narragansett Bay, Narragansett Bay — West Passage, Block Island Sound, and 4 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.