This is the incredible moment a group of fishermen stumble upon a fish with a gold bracelet wedged around its body.

The group reportedly made the unexpected catch during a fishing expedition to Lingshan Island, off the coast of Qingdao, in China’s eastern Shandong Province.

One member of the group, named Mr Chen in local media, told of his astonishment when his fishing buddy reeled in the blueish Spanish mackerel with a golden bracelet stuck below its head.

In a video filmed by Chen, a man is seen trying to unhook the mackerel which appears to have sustained visible wounds due to the bracelet digging into its body.

Chen, who described himself as an avid angler, said he has never seen anything like this in his five or six years of fishing.

The group decided to release the fish back into the water to heal and grow while taking the bracelet along as a keepsake.

Chen later shared the video on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, with the caption: “What luck is this? In sea fishing, every cast is uncertain, and this time, it snagged a big gold bracelet.”

The footage attracted widespread attention, gaining over 27,000 likes and more than 65,000 shares, with many users praising the group for allowing the fish to return to a life of freedom.

One user titled ‘Landlords’ commented: “Keep the bracelet as ransom, let the fish go.”

And ‘WangLei’ wrote: “You should thank nature for its gifts.”