595814 Disclosed is a long line fishing apparatus that allows the fishing line to automatically be deployed into the water or to be able to be rewound back on the reel from the water without tangling through a guide. The apparatus comprises a reel able to rotate in one direction for unwinding and in an opposing direction for winding the fishing line on to the reel, and hook retaining means, the reel including a core connected between a first flange and second flange, for winding or unwinding a fishing line thereon said core between the first and second flanges. At least one of the flanges has an outer periphery edge and a centre of rotation. The fishing line includes at least one hook, and the reel is pivotally attached to the support member, and a hook retaining means is formed as at least one slot in the first flange so that the at least one hook can be retained in the at least one slot. Each slot is orientated at an angle with respect to the periphery edge wherein the angle includes an acute angle and obtuse angle, where the acute angle is provided on a leading side of each slot when unwinding and is provided on a trailing side of each slot when winding. The slots are sized to only receive the line whereby the hooks protrude on top of the first flange having the hooks held point down. The fishing line has a dropper backbone where the hooks are removably attached to trace lines and the end of the fishing line has at least one float and/or at least one anchor weight attached so that movement of the reel with respect to the end of the fishing line is caused by movement of at least one float or anchor weight moving away from the reel.
