Low temperature dormancy is one of the key technologies in fish keep-alive transportation. The influences of seawater temperature on the stress and metabolism of golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) were studied in the process of keep-alive transportation, to obtain the important temperature parameters for keep-alive transportation. Gradient cooling of the fish body was implemented to make it dormant, keep the fish alive at different temperatures, obtain the best keep-alive temperature, and measure various indicators in the keep-alive process. The results showed that the fish metabolism increased the total ammonia nitrogen content and pH value in seawater in the process of keep-alive transportation. Golden pompano had a stress response under low temperature:the cortisol content in serum increased, the blood sugar content decreased, the urea nitrogen and total cholesterol content increased, lactate dehydrogenase activity increased slightly, and aspartate aminotransferase activity increased significantly; the glycogen content in muscle decreased, and lactic acid content increased. Golden pompano was kept temporarily at (25±2)℃ for 6 h, and the temperature was gradually lowered to 13-14 ℃ , at this time, the fish was in a dormant state. Then the fish was moved to seawater of 15-17 ℃ to keep alive. The survival rates at 15 ℃ and 17 ℃ for 36 h were both 100%, and the survival rates for 48 h were 83% and 75% respectively. The results showed that seawater temperature has an important influence on the stress and metabolism of golden pompano. We can get theoretical guidance and key temperature parameters for the keep-alive transportation of golden pompano.