The larvae of the species have a functional mouth and gut by 2.3 mm in length, with pigmented eyes and a gas bladder. By this time, the yolk absorption is complete. The snout of recently hatched larvae is , but changes to straight or slightly concave during development, as the mouth retracts from below the center of the eye to the anterior margin of the eye in older fish. The fins develop in sequence from caudal to pectoral, anal, 1st dorsal, 2nd dorsal and finally the pelvic fin. Scales are first visible around the gut and mid lateral line by 16 mm. The larvae of "S. bassensis" are the least pigmented of the whiting inhabiting southern Australia, with the lower jaw containing the only pigment for a long period of time. Juveniles migrate inshore to their nursery areas in surf zones and tidal flats, where they remain until reaching around 50 mm in length.