What type of PFD works best

  With Christmas just around the corners the kids are asking me what do I want for my new kayak. I was thinking maybe a new PDF for fishing or any others items for safety. Are there any preferences for a fishing PDF? .  Thank  you  Robert   (Sanity Check)

make sure it is comfortable that way you will wear it, so make sure you try some on, a high back paddling pfd like the kokatat bahia/bahia tour are a good choice, im not one for the angler ones with pockets, to much stuff to get hung up on trying to self rescue for me, but others like the convienence they offer for geat, hope this is a start, cameron

+1 and

Make sure you try it on with you normally wear OTW. I'd say most/lots of ppl get a PFD that is way to big. Keep in mind nice and loose on the boat will mean its up over your head when in the water

I always say get the coolest looking, best fitting PFD you can. I think "coolest looking" is a good criteria, since most PFDs out there are quite adjustable within a size range, and the cooler you feel in it the more you won't mind wearing it. No one like to wear stuff they think is dorky looking.
I like Extrasport, but others like Kokatat or Stohlquist or any solid manufacturer are just as good.
Resist a "fishing specific" PFD, unless you really need a bunch of pockets or fly fishing tabs.  more pockets=more things to hang up when you are reboarding your yak.

For me, I prefer (and wear) an inflatable pfd. 

Recently, I debated between a NRS CVest, NRS Chinook (closeout and on sale), Extrasport Striper (closeout and on sale) & Stohlquist Fishermen PFD (BassPro's Ascend sells the exact thing for $75).

The Asecend hardcover pocket is cool but if I had to self-rescue, those are hard cover pockets means extra work to get myself back on the kayak.

The rest have soft pockets ... I guess if I don't have anything in side, it will be easier. If I do, it will be like a Ascend/Fisherman PFD but I can always empty them.

In the end, I picked the NRS CVest because of an REI 20% off and it had a bright color ... full Orange.

I jumped from a watersport PFD to a CVest and it's soo much better. I haven't tried to see how well it floats compared to a watersport PFD. The watersport PFD held my 225 lbs ass pretty well. 

"What type of PFD works best"

Like others have said, one that fits . . . correctly.