The species composition and recruitment of apogonids in the coastal waters off southwestern Taiwan were investigated, in order to understand their spatiotemporal variation and the biology of the dominant species, Apogon fasciatus. From June 2000 to August 2005, samples were collected by a beam trawl, operating at seven stations, including Jiading, Zouying, Jhongjhou, Linyuan, Dapeng, Linbian and Fangliao. In total, 33 cruises with 411 nets were included. A total of 4,540 specimens of Apogonidae were collected, belonging to 2 genus and 15 species. There were 6 species, including Apogon fraenatus, Apogon moluccensis, Apogon nigripinnis, Apogon nigrifasciatus, Apogon notatus and Apogon semilineatus, which were first recorded in the sandy or muddy habitats. The number of species was highest at Fangliao (11 species) and lowest at Dapeng and Jiading (5 spp.). Abundance and biomass were highest at Zouying (15.3 ind./net ) and Jhongjhou (60.0 g/net), respectively, whereas, the lowest abundance and biomass were both at Jiading (2.1 ind./net; 11.1 g/net). The most abundant species was Apogon fasciatus (86.6%), which also was the dominant species at each station, following by Apogon pleuron (4.5%), Apogon striatus (2.7%), Archamia bleekeri (2.7%) and Apogon niger (1.2%), comprising 97.7% of the apogonids. Although A. fasciatus and A. pleuron resemble similarly in shape and decorative pattern, the length-weight relationships are significantly different (ANOCA, p<0.001). The former is BW = 1.7 ¡Ñ (10^-6)(TL^3.488), the later is 3.4¡Ñ(10^-6)(TL^3.312) . The parameters, K, L¡Û, t0, of von Bertalanffy growth function of A. fasciatus were 1.88 yr^-1, 105.5 mm TL and -0.04. Showing that A. fasciatus growths much quicker before Age 1 than thereafter. The minimum size of mature female A. fasciatus was found 46.39 mm TL, and the size at maturity (L50) is estimated 75.39 mm TL, approximately 7 month-old. The frequency distribution of egg diameter indicated it is a multiple spawner. In May and October which were transit period between dry and rainy seasons, the abundance of A. fasciatus was normally higher than rest months reflecting the annual recruitment of this species. The GSI variation showed that the major breeding season was form on March to September. However, the small A. fasciatus (< 30 mm TL, about 1 month-old) were found throughout the year that implied A. fasciatus may reproduce annually. Moreover, coastal southward waters of Linyuan was the mainly habitat of A. fasciatus in southwestern coastal waters off Taiwan.