They are found primarily in estuaries, but move into near shore ocean waters during cold periods. In Virginia, most appear to migrate along the coast from North Carolina and into the Chesapeake Bay in early spring and migrate back towards North Carolina in the fall. Though there is evidence of a year round resident population, there is no data available to compare the resident and migratory populations.
Estuaries are critically important throughout the seatrout's life history.
Small tidal marsh creeks and shallow grass beds are the most important nursery grounds for the young, while larger juveniles are widely distributed in estuarine areas and along coastal beaches. Adults frequent grass beds, live oyster beds, creek mouths, drop-offs and structures such as jetties, stumps, pilings and wrecks. They tolerate a wide range of salinities, but adults appear to be most numerous in waters with salinity above 20 ppt. Spotted seatrout spawn from April to September around inlets. They mature at the age of one year when males are about 10 inches long and females about 11 inches in length.