Anglers who lack a California fishing license will have a free pass on Saturday, Sept. 24, as the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) waives the mandatory requirement and celebrates the second Free Fishing Day of the year.

In June and now on Sept. 24, DFG disregards fishing license requirements for anglers 16 years and older on all inland and ocean waters. All other fishing regulations, such as bag and size limits, gear restrictions, fishing hours and stream closures, remain in effect.

“It’s a great opportunity for those who have not wet a line in a few years to get out there and give it a try again,” said Ethan Rotman, coordinator of DFG’s Fishing in the City Program in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In the Bay Area, DFG will stock catfish at Heather Farms Pond in Walnut Creek, Lake Chabot in Vallejo, Lake Vasona in Los Gatos, Lake Ralphine in Santa Rosa, Scottsdale Pond in Novato, and Quarry Lake in Fremont. In addition, East Bay Regional Park District will waive the usual $4 fishing permit access fee at all of its lakes for the day. For more information, call (707) 944-5500.

DFG’s Fishing in the City program offers events to help educate and introduce the general public to an exciting and popular outdoor sport, said Brian Young, program coordinator in Los Angeles. The twice-a-year Free Fishing Day works as a catalyst that sparks renewed interest in parents and relatives who want to introduce their kids to the sport.

“We’re trying to get more kids involved in fishing,” Young said. “Our event is targeted to the kids. Free Fishing Day is a day for everyone. Anyone who wants to bring their kids fishing, this is a good day to do that.”

In Southern California, DFG stocks 28 lakes in Los Angeles and Orange counties. DFG plants catfish between May and November, and trout during the remaining months. The lakes may also contain largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, crappie and carp. A DFG fish stocking information line can be access by calling (562) 594-7268.

The Los Angeles area fishing program will be present at a kids fishing event on Free Fishing Day co-sponsored by Board of Supervisor Don Knabe. The DFG will have free loaner rods and reels at La Mirada Regional County Park. Call (562) 342-7148 for further details.

In the Sacramento area, DFG regularly stock ponds at Gibson Ranch, Howe, Hagen, Mather Regional, William Land and North Laguna Creek parks. It also stocks Oak Grove Regional Land Park in Stockton. On Saturday, the Fishing in the City program will host a free fishing instruction clinic from 8:30 a.m. until noon at Elk Grove Park. DFG stocks the pond with channel catfish and there will be free loan of rods and tackle. Elk Grove Park is on Elk Grove Florin Road, next to the high school, in Elk Grove. Fishing clinics are fun for all ages and reservations are not required. For more information, call (916) 358-2872.

The Fishing in the City program began more than a decade ago to serve Californians living in Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles, the state’s three most populated metropolitan regions.

Information on DFG’s fish planting schedule can be found on its website at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fishplant/index.html. More information on DFG’s Fishing in the City programs can be found at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/coned/fishcity.html.

Funding for the special plants come from a federal excise tax on the sale of fishing tackle and motor boat fuel through the Sport Fish Restoration Act.