Abstract: Winter chill often causes serious damage to aquaculture, which restricts the development of fishery production. Study on Epinephelus coioides chilling characteristics and their response to climate warming is important for fishermen and decision makers in making strategies in determining culturing period, chill risk assessment and against hazardous weather. Based on measured sea temperature and air temperature data of Huidong meteorological station in Guangdong Province in winter 2011, winter sea temperature prediction model was developed using stepwise regression. Daily sea temperatures of winter in 1971—2012 were predicted. Combined daily sea temperature and chill criterion, winter chilling characteristic of Epinepheluscoioides were analyzed. Results showed that winter chill days decreased slightly in 1971—2012 and chill days of adult fish were more than medium fish; Daily chill probability of adult fish increased in mid and late December and decreased in February, with a relative high probability period between Jan 1 and Feb 15. Based on projected data of 1℃warming, it was estimated that chill days and chilling period for big fish will decrease significantly. Besides, average chill first date and last date will be Jan 15 and Feb 3 comparing to Jan 4 and Feb 7 of 1971—2000.