Dark colored Salmon, Put it back??

I've been reading a lot of reports where people are returning a Salmon if it has gone to its dark phase. Why? 
SS

Because they're not exactly the finest fish for the table.  The meat will turn from red/pink to a pale white, become very soft, and taste bland.  You can eat it...but I'd hardly call it 'good' salmon.

I disagree dark salmon are perfectly fine for the smoker. Just my 2 cents

Thanks all. If iI am fortunat to get another I will most prob smoke it then. 

I don't like to even smoke the darker ones as the meat is soft and the meat has no taste. Just my opinion . I typically stop fishing for the salmon in the river when there is not a good chance for a brighter fish... why mess with their breeding?

For whatever it's worth, when salmon are moving up river to spawn they are running on stored reserves.  Like gas in the tank, there's only so much there.  When you play out a fish, you've moved the gas gauge much closer to Empty.  The chance of a played out fish being able to spawn gets a lot less.  Spawning uses a lot of juice.

I guess I'm trying to say that if you're fishing salmon in the river, releasing a played fish doesn't really do the overall spawning population that much good.  It's kind of better to keep the fish if you can.

why mess with their breeding?

I totally agree  As much I LOVE to fish for salmon, once they get into the river systems to spawn, it's off limits to me.

Just my 2 cents...