With the rapid development of aquaculture globally, the welfare of farmed aquatic animals has become a growing concern. As an emerging environmental stressor, underwater noise pollution has garnered major attention in ecotoxicological research because of its impact on the auditory system and behavioral patterns of fish. The large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea), a representative species of the family Sciaenidae, exhibits high auditory sensitivity. The impulsive low-frequency noise (800–1 200 Hz) generated by construction activities (e.g., engineering drilling) in coastal aquaculture zones substantially overlaps with the most sensitive auditory frequency range (400–600 Hz) of this species, potentially causing hearing impairment and behavioral stress. Although previous studies have demonstrated that low-frequency acoustic stimuli affect physiological indicators in L. crocea, the direct evidence of hearing damage and the regulatory effects of body size remain insufficiently explored. This study aims to address these gaps by providing data that can be used to optimize aquaculture environments, enhance fish welfare, and establish noise management standards. Juvenile large yellow croaker from the Rudong Institute in Jiangsu were subjected to short-term noise exposure experiments in a 6 × 1.5 × 1.5 m concrete tank. The noise source was an engineering drill (128T AVT HUMMER) operated 3–10 m from the tank. Construction activities were conducted daily from 07:00 to 11:00 for 10–20 min per session, at 30-min intervals, over three days. A Reson hydrophone (TC4032) and Brüel & Kjær data acquisition module were used to record the sound pressure level and particle motion of the construction noise. The underwater construction noise was broadband in nature, with a dominant spectral peak at 840 Hz and a corresponding sound pressure level of 143.59 dB. Spectral analysis revealed that the primary frequency range of the noise was 800–1,200 Hz, with intensities 40–60 dB higher than the baseline noise level in the aquaculture tank (60–80 dB). Auditory evoked potential (AEP) experiments were conducted in a 50 cm diameter cylindrical tank using a UW-30 underwater speaker to deliver pure-tone stimuli (100–1,200 Hz, 130–60 dB, 3 dB steps). The AEP signals were recorded using a TDT (Tucker-Davis technologies) auditory electrophysiology workstation. The experiment consisted of two phases: pre-exposure (control group) and post-exposure (treatment group). Each fish was tested at 10 frequencies (100–1200 Hz) to determine auditory thresholds. Generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) were used to analyze the interaction effects of auditory thresholds on frequency, body weight, and noise exposure. Fixed effects included frequency, body weight, and group (control/treatment), whereas random effects accounted for individual variability. Post-exposure auditory thresholds in L. crocea increased significantly (P＜0.001), with the greatest threshold elevation observed in the most sensitive frequency range (400–600 Hz), where the average hearing loss reached 11.42 dB. At 500 Hz—the frequency of peak auditory sensitivity in juvenile large yellow croaker—the mean pre-exposure hearing threshold was (75.75±4.14) dB. Following noise exposure, a mean hearing loss of 11.14 dB was observed, indicating substantial damage to critical communication frequencies. At 300 Hz and 400 Hz, body weight exhibited a significant positive correlation with auditory thresholds (Spearman’s r = 0.673, P = 0.033; r = 0.753, P = 0.012), indicating that larger individuals had reduced auditory sensitivity. The GLMM model revealed a significant interaction between body weight and noise exposure (P = 0.004), with the positive effect of body weight on auditory thresholds being more pronounced in the noise-exposed treatment group (noise-exposed). In this study, we evaluated the effects of construction noise exposure on the auditory thresholds of L. crocea and explored the regulatory role of body size in auditory sensitivity. By integrating auditory evoked potential techniques and GLMMs, we elucidated the damage characteristics and potential mechanisms of construction noise in the auditory system of the fish, providing a scientific basis for noise management in aquaculture environments. The overlap between the dominant frequency of construction noise (840 Hz) and the most sensitive auditory range of the fish (400–600 Hz) resulted in the greatest hearing loss at critical communication frequencies, potentially disrupting acoustic communication and environmental perception. Larger individuals exhibited reduced auditory sensitivity in mid-frequency ranges (300–400 Hz), a pattern consistent with findings in other species (e.g., Scorpaenodes barbatus), which is likely linked to auditory system development and sound propagation efficiency. Noise-induced hearing impairment and stress behaviors may reduce foraging efficiency and reproductive success in L. crocea, ultimately affecting aquaculture yield. Furthermore, the observed cumulative effects of noise exposure highlighted the need to address the long-term risks of chronic noise pollution. This study focused on juvenile fish; future research should be extended to adults and reproductive-stage individuals to assess differences in developmental sensitivity. Additionally, experiments conducted in closed tanks differ from those conducted in open-sea net-cage environments, necessitating validation under natural conditions. Long-term studies should incorporate histological analyses (e.g., inner ear hair cell damage) and behavioral ecological metrics to comprehensively evaluate the population-level impacts of noise.