Vessels that are not eligible for a black sea bass moratorium permit under § 648.4(a)(7) , and fishermen subject to the possession limit specified in § 648.145(a) , may only possess black sea bass from May 15 through September 8, unless otherwise specified in the conservation equivalent measures described in § 648.151 or unless this time period is adjusted pursuant to the procedures in § 648.142 . However, possession of black sea bass harvested from state waters outside of this season is allowed for state-only permitted vessels when transiting Federal waters within the Block Island Sound Transit Area provided they follow the provisions at § 648.151 and abide by state regulations.
50 C.F.R. §648.146