Abstract: Disclosed herein is a marine propulsion device including a lower unit having a gear case normally submerged in water and a propeller rotatably mounted in and extending rearwardly of the gear case. One or more grooves in the outer surface of the forward portion of the propeller outer hub in front of the propeller blade serves to trap and store fish line or the like which becomes entangled in the propeller and thereby prevent such materials from entering the gear case. The groove extends around at least a portion of the outer periphery of the forward position of the propeller outer hub, includes one or more portions which are open to a hollow interior area in the propeller, and has sufficient dimensions to serve as a barrier against propagation of fish line or the like along the outer surface of the propeller outer hub toward the gear case.