Cynoscion arenarius was first formally described in 1930 by the American ichthyologist Isaac Ginsburg with its type locality given as Galveston, Texas.

[2] The genus Cynoscion is classified by the 5th edition of Fishes of the World in the family Sciaenidae, with the croakers and drums.

[7] This is a demersal fish occurring in shallow coastal waters, including in the surf zone and in estuaries,[6] where there is a sandy substrate at depths down as far as 177 m (581 ft).

[5] During courtship and spawning the males produce a purring sound, similar to that of C. regalis, which they create by vibrating a special muscle against their swim bladder.

It is an economically valuable species in Mexico, particularly in Veracruz, where it is fished for by commercial fisheries using gill net and hook and line.