Abstract: An automatic fishing device, which includes a support, a fishing rod, a spring for holding the fishing rod in a predetermined first angular position relative to the support, and trigger apparatus for holding the fishing rod in a different position against the resilient force of the spring. The trigger apparatus includes a trigger member having a notch and which is one end of the spring. A stopper is slidably positioned on the fishing line so as to engage the notch when the fishing line is passed through the notch and so as to hold the fishing rod against resilient forces of the spring through tension in the fishing line.