The variation trend and current situation of number and engine power of marine fishing vessels, fishing structure and fishing production in the South China Sea (Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan Provinces) from 1979 to 2017 were analyzed, based on the data of China Fisheries Statistical Yearbook and relevant information on fishery resources and fishery production in the South China Sea. After the comprehensive implementation of the total number and power control system for marine fishing vessels, the rising trend of fishing vessels in the South China Sea has been controlled, and even generally declined in recent years. However, the total tonnage and engine power of fishing vessels are basically rising. Since 2002, the total tonnage of motor fishing vessels in the South China Sea has increased by 45% and the total engine power has increased by 13.7%. In 2017, motor fishing vessels under 44.1 kilowatts accounted for 77.5%. The fishing production in the South China Sea has been gradually controlled in recent years. In the past five years, the fishing capacity in the South China Sea has been about 3.4 million to 3.8 million tons, and the trawler and gillnetter production, which has great destructiveness to fishery resources, accounts for 72% to 74%. There are some problems in the marine fisheries of the South China Sea, such as the lack of fishing production data, inadequate control of fishing effort and the unreasonable structure of fishing operation. It is suggested to establish and improve the system of statistics and verification of catches by relying on fishing ports, reduce the capacity of offshore fishing, expand offshore fishery orderly, constantly promote public participation in fishery management, and enhance the transparency of fishery management.