The Saltwater Sportsmen’s Show is Back with a New Management Team!
It’s been tough sitting out these past couple of years. We plan to pick up where we left off with a robust seminar series and the trade show in the Jackman-Long Building at the Oregon State Fairgrounds. There will be raffle prizes and auction items available and time to visit with old and new friends. Show dates are February 25th & 26th, 2023.
Press Release ~ June 2022
Beaverton, OR – The Oregon Coalition for Educating ANglers (OCEAN) and Saltwater Sportsmen’s Show will be returning to the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem, February 25th and 26th, 2023, after a two year hiatus. As the name suggests, this event caters to saltwater anglers of all stripes and mixes a strong saltwater seminar series with a variety of retail and educational exhibits.
Ed Keene (past president and original board member) and Marie Keene (executive manager) said they are enthusiastic about a new partnership with O’Loughlin Trade Shows. “This will enable us to continue SSS and our conservation efforts into the future.”
Bill O’Loughlin, President of O’Loughlin Trade Shows said “our role in the Saltwater Sportsmen’s Show will be to manage the show’s operations and exhibitor sales. This show has grown to a level that requires a year round sales, marketing and operations effort and that’s where our team comes in and can be of help to OCEAN in producing this event.”
O’Loughlin noted, “We want to help OCEAN continue their conservation mission and endowment. Both of these initiatives benefit saltwater fisheries and we’re excited to be a part of the event that funds these efforts.”
“I can’t say enough good about the Saltwater Sportsmen’s show. Englund Marine has been involved since the beginning”, said Mark Akerill of Englund Marine and one of the show’s sponsors. “As a retailer, everybody that attends this show is focused on saltwater fishing which delivers a great retail opportunity for us. For saltwater fishing consumers it’s the ideal show to come and improve your knowledge, see the newest in gear and get some great deals. I can’t tell you the number of calls I get from customers asking about this show. And I’m very excited to have O’Loughlin Trade Shows managing this event.”
OCEAN is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that uses the proceeds from the Saltwater Sportsmen’s Show to fund the organization’s conservation efforts along with an Oregon State University endowment that provides scholarships to students who intend to work in some area of saltwater fisheries. Oregon State selects the appropriate student(s) for the scholarship. The OCEAN endowment is perpetual and will provide scholarships for generations.
In addition to the endowment is OCEAN’s ongoing conservation mission to provide descenders free-of-charge to recreational anglers and charter boat captains for use in releasing saltwater bottomfish.
The Saltwater Sportsmen’s Show started in 2003 and in 2004 incorporated as OCEAN with a focus on delivering education to saltwater anglers and initiating an active conservation program.
O’Loughlin Trade Shows is a fourth generation trade show company based in Beaverton, Oregon. O’Loughlin Trade Shows currently produces the Portland Fall RV & Van Show, Tacoma Fall RV Show, Portland Holiday Market, Portland Boat Show, Tacoma RV Show, Washington Sportsmen’s Show, Pacific Northwest Sportsmen’s Show and Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show.