Abstract: A rope retriever device for passing a rope around an object, such as for mooring a boat. The device has a U-shaped member and a pivoting member that functions to pass a rope behind an object and back to the user. The end of a rope is held in a rope holder on one end of the U-shaped member. The rope is laced across the mouth of the U, around a pin on the pivoting member, then back to the user. The rope retriever can be activated by pushing the device against an object or, alternatively, by manually pulling on the free end of the rope. Tension in the rope causes the pivoting member to pivot across the mouth of the U until a spring clip on the end of the pivoting member clips onto the end of the rope. When the device is withdrawn, the pivoting member passes the rope around behind the object and back to the user. The device can be mounted on the end of a long pole or attached to the end of the handle on a boat hook so that it can be used for passing a rope around objects that are out of reach.