Wareham Harbormaster officials netted the state’s largest seizure of black sea bass illegally caught so far this fishing season on Sunday.

The fishermen, whose identities have not been released, were found with 323 pounds of the highly sought after fish. There were 209 total fish, 122 of them were undersized.

The bust occurred after Harbormaster Department Officer Jamie McIntosh suspected the operator of a vessel at the Tempest Knob Boat Ramp had exceeded the legal catch limit.

The recreational limit for black sea bass is five per person with a minimum size of 15-inches.

There were seven people on the boat, but just one person had a recreational license. The legal possession limit of those on the boat would have been 10 fish, since one person was under the age of 16 and didn’t require a license. The identities of those involved have not been released as of this publication.

McIntosh notified Massachusetts Environmental Police who then investigated the catch.

The boat’s owner, a Woburn resident, has been charged with fishing without a salt water recreational license, possession of over the limit sea bass and possession of undersized sea bass. His vessel, trailer, and fishing gear were all seized. He has been summonsed to court, but a date has not been set.

The passengers, who are from Chelsea and Revere, were issued non-criminal citations and must pay a fine.

The fish were taken by the Massachusetts Environmental Police after they were measured and photographed. The fish were then brought to New Bedford and sold. Monetary proceeds will be awarded to the Environmental Police if the suspect is convicted.

“Traditionally we try to donate the fish to a food pantry or a place like the Salvation Army,” said Environmental Police Coastal Bureau Chief Patrick Moran. “In this case, for some reason, it didn’t work out. So we actually sold the fish to a dealer that specializes in sea bass.”

The check will have to be processed before the Environmental Police can receive the money. With sea bass prices ranging anywhere between $4.25 to $5 per pound, the department could get up to $1,600.

“We are not so pleased to report that this is the largest seizure of illegal black sea bass so far in Massachusetts this fishing season,” Harbormaster Garry Buckminster wrote on the department’s Facebook page. “But great observation by Officer McIntosh and a solid investigation by the Massachusetts Environmental Police.”