Acanthopagrus latus was first formally described in 1782 by the Dutch naturalist Martinus Houttuyn with its type locality given as Hirado Bay near Nagasaki in Japan.

[2] Acanthopagrus latus occurs in the east Asian shelf area of the Western Pacific Ocean from Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu in Japan, although it is absent from the Ryukyu and Ogasawara Islands and the Sea of Japan, and southern Korea, Taiwan, along the coast of China from Shanghai as far south as Huế in Vietnam.

[1] The yellowfin seabream is found in warm shallow and coastal waters, frequently going into river mouths and estuaries.

[2] Acanthopagrus latus feeds in small groups on tidal flats, mainly on benthic invertebrates such as echinoderms, molluscs, worms and crustaceans.

[1] Acanthopagrus latus is largely caught by artisanal fisheries and the fish landed are sold fresh in markets.