What's your end game (net, lip grip, gaff) and why?

Gaff for lings over 32" otherwise hands, big net for salmon when needed.  I have landed many a salmon by hand.  Gaff for big halibut, but usually a weatherman gaff.  Rockfish just grab by hand or fish grips.

I see down south that salmon get netted a lot...and released after checking for legal status. The Kings and coho I net in AK saltwater, the scales just explode off the fish once in the net.  Not so down there?

I use a net...as small as I can get away with for salmon. But I only net keepers. Most of the saltwater kings and coho wouldn't survive a release here I don't think.

Boca grips for other species to about 30 pounds. Harpoon (I know not legal there) for anything bigger.

I see down south that salmon get netted a lot...and released after checking for legal status. The Kings and coho I net in AK saltwater, the scales just explode off the fish once in the net.  Not so down there?

I use a net...as small as I can get away with for salmon. But I only net keepers. Most of the saltwater kings and coho wouldn't survive a release here I don't think.

Boca grips for other species to about 30 pounds. Harpoon (I know not legal there) for anything bigger.

Nope.  Its the same here, but netting fish you plan to release, for whatever stupid reason, is encouraged in the regs.  Never net any fish you intend to release imo2. 

Harpoons are now officially legal for pacific halibut.