Extreme ocean waves are typically strongly nonlinear, with extreme wave energy concentrated above the static water surface, which has a complex impact on the hydrodynamics of structures extending above the mean sea level. In this study, we designed netting with three different heights above the water surface and two different solidities, and tested the hydrodynamics of these netting under a series of focused waves through physical model tests. The three heights (h) were designed to account for possible nearshore tidal and wave variations. The results indicate that the wave forces of the netting having sharper and steeper crest than those of the wave surface in the time domain, while it is opposite in frequency domain. Moreover, the wave forces changed significantly with increasing height of the netting above the water surface. Wave forces on netting above water were up to 0.8 and 2.0 times greater than those below water for h = 7.25 cm and h = 14.5 cm, respectively. Regardless of solidity, the rate of increase in netting wave forces gradually decreased with growing wave amplitude when h = 0 cm or h = 7.25 cm, but gradually increased when h = 14.5 cm. The force ratios of the two netting solidities were relatively stable and did not change with wave amplitude. The force ratios were always greater than the solidity ratio, mainly because of the drag coefficient in Morison's equation. Furthermore, steep waves acting on netting wound cause obvious vibration of the wave force because of water jet phenomenon, while the jet have little effect on wave surface elevation in 0.5 m behind the netting. Therefore, for aquaculture facilities such as fixed marine aquaculture cages, the netting design is not only limited by the solidity, but should also consider the hydrodynamic influence of the height that the netting extends above the water.