Wading dos and don't

[Nebe]

from someone who has gone in the drink wearing waders more than a few times, If you know your in water over your head, keep your feet up and try to float on your back. any air in your waders will be trapped in your legs and will help you stay afloat. From there, if you think you cant get out safely, back paddle out to a lobster pot buoy and catch your breath, and think about taking off your gear- korkers, top, and waders. If your wearing bootfoots, tie your boots to the buoy so you can put them back on to help you get out.
panicing= death

[Sledgematic]

Yes, if you're waist-deep a wave can make the water neck-deep long enough to get you in trouble. The other factor is the bottom. The place where the tragedy occurred has bowling ball sized rocks. It has tricky waves. If you trip, or your foot gets wedged for a second and you fall on one knee for a second, you are effectively neck-deep--even with no waves. I was fishing at this spot last Sun nite. Was thigh-deep on an outgoing and twice waves broke over my shoulder.

I will be buying a PFD and rethinking my entire approach, including fishing alone at night which is something I've always done.

[Sledgematic]

As someone pointed out, even if you're waist-deep a wave can make it neck-deep just long enough for you to get into trouble. The other factor is the bottom. The place where the tragedy occurred has bowling ball sized rocks, so if your foot gets wedged a bit and you stumble for a second and go down on one knee (even pushed by a small wave), you're effectively neck-deep there and water can come in.

I am rethinking my entire approach, including wading alone at nite.

[OLD GOAT]

Next summer on a nice sunny day put your waders on over a bathing suit and walk in the wash,dunk down with a deep breath and see what happens.you might be surprised

[Redsoxticket]

If your on the rocks say at hazard ave, you can snap a rope to a d-ring on your belt and secure the other end to a secured anchor (cable, rock, etc.). This may prevent you from getting sucked under the cavern of the rocks.

Also, you can daisy chain a rope among fishing buddies for those dangerous conditions.