The species inhabits estuary and coastal waters from Massachusetts to Texas, and derives its name from the prominent dark spot behind each gill.

The spot was first formally described in 1802 by the French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède with its type locality given as Carolina.

[6] The spot's generic name, Leiostomus means "smooth mouth" and refers to the toothless lower jaw.

[8] The spot is native to the west central and northwest regions on the Atlantic Ocean.

[1] The spot is omnivorous, and eats benthic invertebrates, small crustaceans, and plant and animal detritus.

It moves from its typical bay and estuary habitat to an offshore area of deeper water, where up to 1.7 million eggs may be laid.

Larvae quickly grow in the warmer offshore water and move into coastal shallows and bays for winter.

[12] At least one aquaculture project in New Jersey is attempting to culture spot for potential commercial production.