In order to compare the differences in muscle nutrient composition between wild and cultured Coilia nasus, the amino acid composition and common nutrient composition in muscle of wild (captured in Jingjiang section of Changjiang) and cultured Coilia nasus (fed live bait) were determined by routine methods. The results showed as follows: compared with the wild Coilia nasus, crude protein and ash contents in fresh muscle of cultured Coilia nasus were significantly increased (P<0.05). In contrast, the crude fat content in fresh muscle of wild Coilia nasus was significantly higher than that of cultured Coilia nasus (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in moisture content in fresh muscle between wild and cultured Coilia nasus (P>0.05). Both wild and cultured Coilia nasus had 18 kinds of amino acids. Compared with the wild Coilia nasus, the contents of most amino acids in fresh muscle of cultured Coilia nasus were significantly higher (P<0.05). Additionally, the contents of total amino acids and delicious amino acids of cultured Coilia nasus were significantly higher than those of wild Coilia nasus (P<0.05). Base on the criteria of amino acid score (ASS) and chemical score (CS), the first limiting amino acid of the two groups was tryptophan, and cultured Coilia nasus exhibited a higher essential amino acid index (EAAI) than wild Coilia nasus. In conclusion, the nutritional quality of cultured Coilia nasus which were fed live baits is not decreased, and the wild Coilia nasus can be substituted by cultured Coilia nasus.［Chinese Journal of Animal Nutrition，2011，23（3）：514-520］