I gotta do this..I'd love to know the weight of the slab in your member photo Stoisy. I assume that you didn't think it was OK to release after the hand in the gills photo. Not trying to be too cheeky, but it does look just a wee bit larger than 10 - 20 lbs. You may want to consider changing that if you're going to stay on this tack...
CP
Pretty good point being made - shouldn't throw stones in a glass house. To be honest, I have fished at QCL several times where they like to release the big girls(40 + pounders). However, I have watched guys trying to release a 45lb salmon only to see it go belly up. I think releasing a fish has less to do on size and more on how long it took to get to the side of your boat. If you fight a 50lb salmon for 45 minutes and release it, it will not live. Studies have shown this over and over. It actually means that by releasing a 50lb salmon to go die and harvesting a 25lb one, you are probably killing 2 fish - the exact opposite of what you are trying to accomplish. If you can get a big one to the side of your boat quickly - by all means. Personally, the big ones are not that good to eat but if I have fought a fish for 30 minutes - it goes in the box. Not because of bragging rights but because it is better for the fishery. If a 12lb salmon is bleeding out the gills - it also goes in the box (sure I can release it to swim away and catch a bigger fish, but then I am killing 2). The issue is not as simple as letter the big ones live... Cheers.