The effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on growth performance, non-specific immunity, antioxidant capacity, lipid deposition and related gene expression were investigated in the large yellow croaker (Larmichthys crocea). Fish (7·56 (SEM 0·60) g) were fed soyabean oil-based diets with graded levels of CLA (0, 0·42, 0·83, 1·70%) for 70 d. Quantitative PCR was used to assess the effects of CLA on the transcription of inflammation- and fatty acid oxidation-related genes. Growth in fish fed the diet with 0·42% CLA was significantly higher. Also, phagocytic index and respiratory burst activity were significantly higher in fish fed the diets containing 0·42 and 0·83% CLA, respectively. Hepatic total antioxidative capacity and catalase activities increased significantly when CLA increased from 0 to 0·83%, and then decreased with further increase of CLA. However, hepatic malondialdehyde content decreased significantly as dietary CLA increased. Lipid concentration in the whole body and muscle increased significantly with increasing dietary CLA. Transcription of genes related to inflammation (cyclo-oxygenase-2 and IL-b) in the liver and kidney and fatty acid oxidation (carnitine palmitoyl transferase I and acyl CoA oxidase) in the kidney decreased significantly as dietary CLA increased. PPAR alpha and acyl CoA oxidase expression in the liver decreased significantly as CLA increased from 0·42 to 1·70%. These results strongly suggest that dietary CLA could significantly affect growth performance, non-specific immunity, antioxidant capacity, lipid deposition and transcription of inflammation- and fatty acid oxidation-related genes of the large yellow croaker. This may contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms related to the physiological effects of dietary CLA in fish.