Abstract: One of the priority research projects of the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) is broodstock development and mass propagation of silver catfish, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, of which the broodstock is naturally abundant in New Calabar river. Selected physical characteristics and water physico-chemical parameters of the upper reach of the New Calabar river at Aluu were investigated. The highest depth value of 9.20 m was recorded in the middle of the river. The width of the river measured during spring high tide and low tide were 174 and 110 m, respectively. The cross-sectional area and average flow velocity of the river were 797.13 m2 and 0.374 m sec-1, respectively. The discharge of the river was computed as 298.13 m3 sec-1. The river water was acidic most of the period (hydrogen ion concentration, pH: 5.12-7.43), with low total alkalinity values (4.00-12.00 mg CaCO3 L-1) and low total hardness values (11.5-51.2 mg CaCO3 L-1) which indicate that the river water is black and soft. There was significant (p≤0.05) seasonal variation in temperature (23.1-31.7°C), Secchi transparency (9.30-19.00 cm), total hardness (11.5-51.2 mg CaCO3 L-1), dissolved oxygen (5.20-7.50 mg L-1) and dissolved oxygen deficit (0.02-2.95 mg L-1). These results are useful for several stake holders who use the river as a sink for trade wastes, source of water for fish farming, source of broodstocks of Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, raw water for water treatment plants and means of transportation of industrial materials.