That's a good point Ryan but I would argue that with today's technology with cell phones and cameras and taxidermy you can have the best of both worlds. Have a hog of tyee on the line? Call over another boat on the radio/cell if there is one nearby (which is lodges is almost always the case) or even get the 'camera' boat to come out (which is often an option at lodges since you're generally fighting tyee's for some time).
Bring the fish in as quickly as you can without forcing the issue to the point of losing the fish and then ideally use just your hands to support the fish out of the water and get a few pics if need be. May need the help of a buddy or two if the fish is really big. If too big to handle, use a catch and release net and bring the fish into the boat as carefully as possible. Remove the hooks and get a quick measurement of the lenght (tip of nose to fork of tail) and the girth at the widest point. That is all you need to accurately weigh a fish without putting it on the scale. The lodge will have the formula to do the math.
Have you couple pics with the fish and gentle lower it back into the water and revive is necessary but getting some water running thru the gills. After a minute or so the fish will be ready to go and will most often swim right out of your hands without any push needed.
Handled carefully, released salmon have a VERY high survival rate (upwards of 95% +). That said, guides and fishermen need to use best practices in fighting/handling fish in order for survival to be this high. Several of the lodges and DFO did a study a few year back showing this high rate of survival and as mentioned above we've all caught fish with pretty nasty scars which indicate they were able to survive serious blood loss.
At the end of the day if you do all of the above, you have:
1) A wicked story and the pics to prove it
2) An incredible sense of pride/stewardship/whatever you want to call it that can only be experienced by releasing one of these beauty monster chinook.
3) With measurements and pics a taxidermist can replicate your fish to a tee for you to hang in your office/den until the wife tells you to get rid of it altogether.
Hope that helps convince a few others to partake in C&R practices that truly are needed if we want to ensure these BIG fish remain part of our fishery in BC.
It's easy for you guys that have bonked dozens of tyees in the past to throw them back now... What if it was your first? Sure would be hard for me....