Abstract: A fishing rod holder mountable to a fishing vessel. The holder is supported above the vessel's deck by a conventional adjustable ball joint mount. The holder has a hollow interior cavity with an opening extending along one side and to a communicating front end opening in the holder. Oppositely directed concave surfaces in the front end opening and in an internal movable cradle act to lock an inserted fishing rod in place within the holder as tension is applied to a taut fishing line. The cradle may be positioned and fixed in a depressed or elevated position within the holder. Two side push buttons are used to operate locking mechanisms employed to lock the movable cradle in position. A external side lever fixed to an internal rod is used to move an attached cradle support rod in a pivotal motion. Additional features include a non skid surface around the fishing rod holder surface forming the front end opening to insure the inserted fishing rod will not move when its line is tensioned by a caught fish.