The preopercle, the bony plate just in front of the operculum, bears a few spines set at an angle.

Seatrout usually have 1 or 2 prominent canine teeth at the tip of upper jaw and do not have chin pores.

[2] Bairdiella chrysoura spawns in shallow, saline portions of bays and other inshore areas, peaking between May and September.

[2] Bairdiella chrysoura are rarely targeted as game fish due to their small size, though they are considered good eating.

They are most commonly caught as bycatch when fishing inshore or nearshore for species such as black drum and sheepshead.