Abstract: A system for retrieving a rope, line, or cable for use in, for example, mooring marine vessels of various sizes and configuration, the exemplary embodiment of the present invention being particularly suitable for mooring sport fishing vessels or the like, wherein there is provided a hand held retrieval device having a shaft with a boat hook affixed to one end and a grasping area at the other, the boat hook having a unique configuration wherein the arm or free end of the hook has situated thereabout a compressible layer of material having a high friction coefficient, and the opposing shank section of the hook has emanating therefrom first and second, parallel edges forming a channel therebetween, the edges and free end spaced and positioned to form a highly effective line retrieval hook.