Here's a pic of me leaning over the side of the boat putting a noose around the pectoral fin of a 6ft nurse shark we reeled in. We put a noose around its tail and pectoral fins and then cleat it off to the boat. Then we do a workup on it - measure it, check the sex, tag it, then release it. Incidentally, to check the sex, I basically gave it a reach around while it was tied up to the side of the boat. (It was a female.)

Updates: I've been bitten by a pelican 3 more times. Twice today. She drew blood. We had a day off today, so I went spearfishing and speared a barjack. I help the neighbor's kids with their homework most nights. I've seen eagle rays, southern rays, baracuda, triggerfish, reef sharks, sharpnose shards, mackerel, eels, yellow stingrays, turtles, nurse sharks, and lemon sharks. I pretty much see something ridiculously awesome every single day, and I love it. Even on the day I sat on a tracking boat in the wind and rain listening for static through the hydrophone for 8 hours straight, I had a stupid grin on my face because I was so happy to be out on the water.

Next time I write, I'll have to write some crazy story like riding a 15ft tiger shark like a horse (as a fisherman in town last weekend tried to convince me he did).