Adults are demersal and occur mainly all along the west coast at depths from 155 to 2470 m, and are often associated with sandy bottoms of the abyssal plains. Spawning may occur year round, likely within the adult habitat. Juveniles are demersal and likely occur within the adult habitat. From winter through spring and central California northward, spawning occurs from the intertidal zone to 30 m deep over rocky reefs in areas of swift current. Adults are demersal and occur in estuaries and all along the west coast, at depths from 0-80 m, commonly associated with kelp beds, jetties, rocky reefs and pinnacles.
Small juveniles are pelagic and occur in estuaries and probably over the shelf and slope.
Larvae are pelagic and occur in estuaries, over the shelf and slope. Spawning occurs during the fall, probably in adult habitats. Larvae are pelagic and occur in the upper 45 m of the water column, mainly from northern California northward. In the fall, eggs are deposited on rocky substrates in the adult habitats. Adults are parademersal and occur from central California northward, at depths from 50-300m, and are often associated with mud, sand, and gravel substrates.