The fish spawn in inshore waters and live in rocky areas and reefs of up to  deep. They school, and will migrate between reefs. Larger fish are known to enter estuaries and harbours, for example Port Phillip Bay has a renowned seasonal snapper run.
The passage describes the spawning habits of fish, their habitat preferences, schooling behavior, and migratory patterns. It also mentions a specific example of a notable fish run in Port Phillip Bay.