Based on the fishing vessel data obtained from VⅡRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) payloaded on SNPP (Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite), this paper studies the temporal and spatial distribution of fishing vessels and its variation in East China Sea and Yellow Sea. The results show that:(1) Fishing vessel data can reflect the temporal and spatial distribution of fishing activities and fishery resources in East China Sea and Yellow Sea, for example, the distribution of fishing vessels in the north fishing region has been greatly reduced because of weather and the Spring Festival in February and the distribution range and number of fishing vessels which are affected by the supplement of fishery resources in current year and the concentration of coastal feeding groups reach the peaks in the south fishing region in August and in the north fishing region in October, respectively. Moreover, the temporal and spatial distribution of fishing vessels and the change of their barycenter also indicate the influence of Yellow Sea Warm Current, Taiwan Warm Current, Coastal Current, and Changjiang Diluted Water on the distribution of fishery resources. (2) The effects of fishery policy are well reflected in the fishing vessel data. During the closed fishing season, the sailings have obviously decreased, but fishing activities have not completely disappeared, and illegal fishing may still exist. (3) The annual sailings in the south fishing ground decrease and the barycenter in the north or south fishing grounds generally move westward, which might be related to the alternations of fishery resources. The quality of remote sensing data will be impacted by cloud cover and other factors, but SNPP/VⅡRS night light remote sensing data can still provide support for the monitoring of the light-fishing industry in the coastal regions of China.