Saturday will be Free Fishing License Day in Connecticut, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announced Thursday.

A special fifth Annual Saltwater Fishing Day event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Fort Trumbull State Park in New London, sponsored by DEEP’s No Child Left Inside program and the Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education program.

Naturalists from the Meigs Point and Denison Pequotsepos nature centers will have live turtles, snakes and frogs for visitors to see.

Other activities include a lobster pot logic maze and fishing and crabbing opportunities for families.

State Environmental Conservation Police and CT Aquatic Resources Education will feature their marine trailers at the event.

Combining the annual saltwater fishing day with free fishing license day provides families the opportunity to plan an outing focused around fishing together. Each family member age 16 or older can obtain a free one-day fishing license. 

To fish for free, anyone — resident or nonresident — can obtain a free one-day fishing license, good for both the inland and marine districts, through the DEEP online sportsmen licensing system (www.ct.gov/deep/sportsmenlicensing) or at any venue that sells fishing licenses. 

“Free Fishing License Day reflects how fishing is much more than catching fish. For many, the quality time spent connecting with friends and family outdoors is priceless,” DEEP Deputy Commissioner Susan Whalen said in a news release.

Those who are 15 or younger do not need a fishing license but can register using the same online system to obtain a “Youth Fishing Passport," which provides access to two fishing-related activities and a list of sponsors who are offering discounts or free items to passport holders.

New this year is the “Fishing Challenge Scorecard” so that young anglers can keep track of all of the different types of fish they catch. Visit www.ct.gov/deep/yfp for details.

For listings of lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and coastal access points call (860) 424-3474 or consult the 2016 Connecticut Angler’s Guide at www.ct.gov/deep/anglersguide. Print versions are available at more than 350 locations statewide, including many town halls, bait and tackle shops and other vendors selling outdoor equipment, DEEP facilities and commercial marinas and campgrounds, or by calling (860) 424-3474.