The temperate bass,Lateolabrax maculatus, collected by a seine net from the mouth of Hangzhou estuary, China, and Ariake Bay and Shimanto estuary of Japan were described and compared based on morphological characteristics, the number of vertebrae, dorsal and anal pterygiophores in postflexion larval and juvenile stage. The results were revealed that specimens from the mouth of Hangzhou estuary and Ariake Bay were very similar, not only on morphological characteristics but also on internal skeleton above. However both differed markedly from the specimens of Shimanto estuary in the pattern of pigmentations, proportion of the snout and body depth to standard length, the mean number of vertebrae and dorsal pterygiophores. These morphological characteristics proved the similarity of temperate bass from the mouth of Hangzhou estuary and Ariake Bay. There are some obvious morphological differences between the Chinese and Japanese temperate bass either the early developmental stages or adult. These morphological differences suggested that Chinese temperate bass should be distinct species. The scientific name of Chinese temperate bass should be changed to Lateolabrax maculatus （McClellan）.