Umbrina cirrosa is a demersal species which is found in inshore waters,[1] over both rock and sandy sea beds.[2] The juveniles occur in estuaries.[3] The males produce pulses of sound to attract the females[5] and spawning begins in May and peaks in June,[1] the eggs being scattered over the substrate, each female lays more than one batch of spawn.[2] The prey taken by this species includes on sardines, anchovies, mackerels, cuttlefish, molluscs and worms,[1] but the main prey are benthic invertebrates.[3]