The behavior of California sheephead is shaped by the daily cycle of light, twilight, and dark. Diurnal fishes, like the sheephead, make a round trip between their refuges and foraging areas twice a day, and additional daily trips may be made by breeding fishes to spawning sites.
California sheephead exhibit daily movements between their shelters and feeding areas, with some breeding fish making additional trips to spawning sites. This behavior is influenced by the daily cycle of light and darkness.