It’s been a minute since I’ve read the books, so feel free to correct me, but doesnt Gandalf ask Aragorn to find Gollum after Bilbo’s birthday? Then they imprison him with the elves who feel pity for him and let him climb a tree. Then he won’t come down or something and gets away.
I assumed this is what the hunt for Gollum is, but I haven’t looked at anything to confirm this.
“Precious, it’s been called that before…”
Yo ho yo ho…