A novel quick release fishing rod holder, the fishing rod holder is a base portion forming a longitudinal tube having a curved entry thereinto and a split-arm fishing rod retainer assembly, including a split-barrel portion formed of a cooperating pair of opposing semi-tubular walls split along a longitudinal opening therebetween, and a torque restraint mechanism operable between the opposing semi-tubular walls adjacent to opposing ends thereof, and a split-leg portion sized to be received into the tube of the base portion through the curved entry thereinto, wherein the split-leg portion includes a pair of legs each having one of the semi-tubular walls of the split-barrel portion positioned at a distal end thereof, and a curved insertion portion cooperating with the curved entry into the tube of the base portion. A biasing mechanism is positioned for biasing apart the walls of the split-barrel portion.
