OCEAN PINES — The Ocean Pines Anglers Club held its annual “Teach a Kid to Fish Day” in June, and now children are invited to will put the skills they learned to the test during the Art Hansen Memorial Fishing Contest, set for Saturday at the South Gate Pond.

The sound of an air horn at 9 a.m. will signify the beginning of the 16th annual tournament. Children will line up around the pond and cast their reels in hopes of catching the biggest fish.

“Like our event last month, the whole idea is to bring the concept of fishing to kids,” said Walt Boge, a member of the anglers club and an organizer of the tournament.

Anglers will be separated into three age groups: 4-7 years old, 8-11 and 12-16. The top angler in each division will be awarded a trophy and a new fishing rod. Not only will second- and third-place finishers also receive a special prize, but all participants will at least win a T-shirt or baseball cap.

Children ages 4 and younger may fish, but they will not be eligible for prizes.

Registration for the event will begin at 8:30 a.m. All children must register to receive prizes.

Each angler must take his or her own fishing rod, but bait will be provided.

Parents will be allowed to help their children cast the fishing line into the pond, but each child must reel the caught fish the whole way in without any assistance from others for the catch to count toward any prizes.

Upon successfully catching a fish on his or her own, the fish will be taken to a panel of seven judges headed by Chief Judge John McFall, also a member of the angler club, where it will be measured and released back into the pond.

Fifteen minutes before 11 a.m., another sound of an air horn will let anglers know the contest is over.

“It’s fun, but we just hope it’s not too hot,” said Lee Phillips, event organizer. The club will provide free water.

In addition to the tournament, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources will be giving items away for free such as Frisbees and books about fishing.

Also, 200 bluegill hybrid fish will be released into the pond by the DNR, just as it did for Teach a Kid to Fish Day.

Saturday’s tournament would not be possible without the Ocean City-Berlin Optimist Club and the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishing Association, who helped fund the event.

Volunteers from the Ocean Pines Anglers club will be present to provide tips for families and organizers hope kids who attended Teach a Kid to Fish Day will use their learned skills.

“As in any contest, let the best boy or girl win,” said Boge.