Abstract: A fish stringer for temporarily storing captured fish in the water, has a recoil mechanism operatively coupled with the hook-supporting line of the stringer to permit selective extension and retraction of the line in accordance with the needs of the angler. The multiple fish-securing hooks in the stringer are shiftably attached to the line for sliding movement along the length of the latter whereby the hooks may be segregated from recoiled portions of the line. In preferred forms, the recoil mechanism is stored within a housing having a line-accommodating passageway formed therein of a dimension sufficient to preclude the hooks from entering the housing. A retainer clip on the housing holds the hooks in a convenient out of the way position until such time as they may be required for retaining fish.