and 38 and extend out of the distal end 61 of elongated case member 60 as shown in fig8 to close jaws 40 and 42 together the palm of the hand generally indicated by the numeral 62 of the user grasps handle portion 50 and the fingers of the hand 62 grasp finger grasping member 22 as the fingers of the hand 62 are tightened upwardly as indicated by the arrow fig8 elongated members 32 and 34 transverse members 28 and 30 withdraw into elongated case member 60 when jaw holders 36 and 38 strike the walls 60 a and 60 b respectively jaws 40 and 42 are forced together as shown in fig8 when fish grasping tongs 15 are in the position shown in fig7 the jaws 40 and 42 are spread apart and jaw 42 or 40 maybe inserted into the mouth of a fish 65 as shown in fig9 when finger grasping member 22 is forced upwardly as shown in fig9 the jaws 42 and 40 clamp on mouth of the fish 65 with one of the jaws being on the outside of the fish and one of the jaws being on the inside of the fish the teeth 44 and 46 are forced together and tightly grip the side of mouth of fish 65 thus utilizing the fish holder of the invention a fish can be lifted from the water after being reeled to the side of a boat by sportsman with a rod and reel it is not necessary to grab the back of the fish and therefore protective slime is not removed the fish can be held by.