Coilia nasus is a kind of mid-small-sized fish with resident and migration ecotypes.The anadromous population has long been recognized as very important commercial aquatic products in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.To evaluate the fishery biological characteristics, we analyzed 458 specimens of Coilia nasus collected at Jingjiang section of the Yangtze River in fishing season, in May, 2012.The results showed that the spawning stock included 1-4 years old groups with 85.81% of age 2 to 3 years.The body length ranged from 14.2 to 38.9 cm with an average of (25.72±4.08)cm and the body weight varied from 9.2 to 208.4 g with an average of (69.59±33.73)g.Body length and body weight were fitted into the function W=0.0028L^3.0866(R²=0.915 3), The average fatness was only 0.38±0.08.Based on the von Bertalanffy growth equation:L_t=40.82[1-e^{-0.31(t+0.55)}],W_t=262.59[1-e^{-0.31(t+0.55)}]³，we calculated the asymptotic length of 40.82 cm and the asymptotic weight of 262.59 g.The age at inflection point of body weight growth curve was 2.99 years old when body weight was W_t=77.66 g.Compared with the study results in 1970s, the recruitment and young surplus populations of the spawning stock increased significantly in reproductive population.Low-age and miniaturization tendency was obviously accompanied with fatness decrease.However, the growth potential was still high on the basis of the growth equation.The results suggest that active measures such as reducing fishing intensity of the reproductive population and protecting the spawning grounds are imperative to maintain this precious fishery resources.