The work aims to study the relationship between small yellow croaker quality changes and shelf life at different temperatures and establish a shelf-life prediction model. Sensory evaluation, specific retention count, pH, L and b* value, total-volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) value and K value at different storage temperatures such as 273, 278, 283, 288, 293 K were analyzed. Based on the Arrhenius equation, kinetic predicting models which were about TVC, TVB-N and K value were established. It was shown that TVC, TVB-N and K value gradually increased and sensory quality of the yellow croaker deteriorated with the storage time prolonged. In conclusion, the accuracy rate of the predicting model is more than 90%, which could be used in the prediction of the remaining shelf life of small yellow croaker within the temperature ranges from 273 K to 293 K.