Hey Anne,
I kept checking to see who was fishing the west end of the beach - a couple of bait dunkers were on that side when I first showed up, but didn't see much activity going on at that end. At least you left without having to take Pepe LePew home with you! :D :D Funny you should mention about the bootfoot waders - do you mind mentioning what brand/model you're getting? After wearing out 8-10 pairs of various breathable & neoprene bootfoot waders over the last 15-20 years, I recently got a pair of neoprene stockingfoot waders & Teva sandals for venturing into the surf. It's a drastic change from the bootfoots I'm accustomed to wearing in the suds. The sandals are vented & prevent sand from accumulating around the foot. One thing I've noticed is that the sandals provide a good "feel" for the bottom - the footwear gives me a better sense of where the holes & depressions are located when I can't see the bottom while I'm wading. The downside is that pebbles & stones tend to lodge between the sandals & my foot, making my foot somewhat uncomfortable until I can flush or clean the debris out. I'm sure the stockingfoots will leak at some point this year, but I thought I'd at least give them a try. I still have my last pair of neoprene bootfoot waders as a back-up for the surf - the vulcanized rubber bootfoots are almost completely encased in Aquaseal from all the cracks & leaks I've had to repair (& they're barely a year old!). Maybe it's time I invest in a high-end pair of bootfoot waders considering all the miles I log in the surf each year. :? - Mark