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! 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