, which occurs in the coastal waters of China, including the Yellow, East China, and South China Seas, is a favorite seafood of coastal residents and has great economic value. However, because resources have been rapidly reduced by overfishing and artificial breeding technology is immature, breeding high-quality fish fry and germplasm conservation and utilization are critical. The aim of the present study was to analyze and compare the morphology of 238 individuals that were collected from seven locations, including Lian Yungang, Dafeng, Chongming, Zhoushan, Ningde, Xiamen, and Wenzhou. More specifically, one-way ANOVA, principle components analysis, cluster analysis, and discriminant analysis were used to investigate whether the seven geographic populations differed in regards to 13 morphological traits and 20 truss network characters. Because individual size variation could have affected the results, all data were calibrated using body length (BL). One-way ANOVA revealed significant differences between the seven geographical populations, and the four principal components identified using principal component analysis accounted for 53.131%, 9.328%, 4.249%, and 3.406%, respectively, of the variation among populations and 70% in total. The first principal component reflected trunk characteristics-body depth/BL, D6 (origin of pelvic fin to the front edge of head occipital spine)/BL, D7 (the front edge of head occipital spine to origin of anal fin)/BL, D8 (origin of pelvic fin to origin of dorsal fin)/BL, D9 (the front edge of head occipital spine to end point of anal fin)/BL, D11 (origin of anal fin to origin of dorsal fin)/BL, and D14 (origin of dorsal fin to end point of dorsal fin)/BL, which indicates that trunk characteristics can be used as a basis for judging population differences. Both the cluster and principle components analyses showed that there was no obvious north-south differentiation in the species' morphology. Many studies have reported opposite patterns, possibly owing to different sampling times, locations, quantities, and analyses. Discrimination analysis indicated that the comprehensive discrimination rate of the seven populations was 85.3% and that the discriminant accuracy ratio was 62.5%-96.7% and 78.1%-90.6% for P1 (Correct discriminant number of one group/the actual number of the group) and P2 (Correct discriminant number of one group/discriminant number entering the group) respectively. However, the discrimination accuracy of the Zhoushan population was low, owing to its unique geographical factors, including ocean current and freshwater flow. The present study provides basic C. lucidus populations, protecting germplasm resources, and selecting fine varieties.