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Based on recommendation from the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, this action proposes to adjust the Council’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan to increase flexible management. To do so, the rule proposes to establish conservation equivalency for management of the black sea bass recreational fishery, which would allow Federal waters recreational management measures to be waived and instead require anglers to abide by the measures of the state where they land their catch. It also allows for the transit of non-federally permitted vessels through the Federal waters of Block Island Sound during times when commercial and recreational measures in state and Federal waters differ. The transit zone would be identical to that currently in place for striped bass and applies to summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass. Finally, the rule proposes to incorporate a maximum recreational size limit in the specifications process for summer flounder and black sea bass, allowing for future consideration of slot limits, split slot limits, and trophy fish when setting annual Federal recreational management measures.