Who the hell wears foot protection

It's bad enough surfing in booties bugger kiting in them..
If your in an area prone to cobblers, for example shallows with scattered seaweed then shuffle your feet. It won't stop you getting spiked, but it will reduce the chances of a bad experience. It's actually your body weight that pushes the poison out of the sack at the base of the spike.
If you shuffle good chance is you will hopefully knudge their tail befor the side spikes and they will take off..

But I do feel for the poor bloke, I've never had one but some friends have and they were in some major pain.