Biology

Commonly found in harbors and shallow coastal waters. Move to deeper water in winter. Adults attach their eggs near the base of a sponge to use as a spawning bed (Ref. 34819, 41075). Benthic; feeds on crustaceans, molluscs, sea squirts, squids and fishes (herring, mackerel, smelt, sand lance and silversides (Ref. 5951)) (Ref. 58426).