Bioaccumulation of heavy metals can cause physiological and biochemical alterations in aquatic animals. Accumulation of Cd and Pb and oxidative response in the liver and muscle of fish species; Scatophagus argus, Plotosus lineatus, Netuma thalassina and Mugil cephalus were evaluated. Accumulation of Cd, Pb and oxidative response indicated by malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly higher in the liver than muscle in all coastal fish species. Antioxidative parameters, such as reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), varied. S. argus exhibited the highest levels of Cd and Pb accumulation, both in the liver and muscle. Simultaneous activation and depression of oxidative defense mechanism was depicted in S. argus’s liver which indicated by positive correlation of Pb to CAT activity and negative correlation of Pb to SOD activity. Positive correlation was significance for Cd and Pb accumulation in the liver and muscle of M. cephalus, which may be used for pollution biomonitoring. The present study indicated the oxidative response to Cd and Pb accumulation was emphasise in liver, while oxidative response varied in each coastal fish species.