Ghost stories from the beach

[DZ]

And the Eyes Watch You

Its 3:00 AM on the islands east side during the dark of the moon, now mid November and not many casters about. I slowly picked my way along the cobble shore to my favorite perch near the “bass stand”. “It’s a really black night”, I said to myself. I looked toward the northeast – the eyes were watching. I switched off my neck light and was instantly blinded for 5-10 seconds until my eyes could adjust to the darkness.

Now on my rock I cast a needlefish toward the pipes. I counted in my head as I started my retrieve. On the count of “6” I felt the needle pause as if a bass had made a pass at it. I dropped the needle back by lowering my rod and the bass struck it on queue. I looked over and the eyes were watching.

As I landed the bass I glanced over my right shoulder and could vaguely make out a human form about 30 yards down the shore – don’t turn on the neck light I thought as I unhooked the bass in the darkness. Back on my perch – the eyes watching to my left and the unknown person to my right.

Nothing more from this perch – I decided to move a little to the right toward the other fisherman. He was right in a spot I liked to fish. As I walked toward him I asked him how he was doing – I got no response and was surprised to see him move further away from me. I was starting to get a little concerned. Off to my left - the eyes still watched.

Now on my new perch I peered again at the unknown angler on my right. At that point I let fly with a cast while watching him. He cast at the same time. It was then that I realized that the other caster was my own shadow.

Note: The “eyes that watch me” are in fact a reflection off the water from the Newport Bridge Lights some 20 miles distant - they are visible from Block Island’s east side. The lights and their reflection form a perfect set of eyes.
My shadow (whom I tried to start a conversation with – true story) is formed from the green navigation light off of Old Harbor Breakwater. The green light produces an eerie glow that creates a faint shadow.

I have plenty more “bump in the night” Block Island surfcasting stories. Since I fish alone most of the time my thoughts create most of them.