Captain James “Zach” Zacharias was a staunch lover and defender of fishing and the habitat that supported it. – Facebook | Submitted
On Thursday, March 5, we lost one of the area’s earliest and most ardent defenders of the marine resources that make our Island home so special.
I first met Captain James “Zach” Zacharias when I began my career writing about fishing in a column called “Backlash” for the Longboat Observer in the 1980s. Captain Zach was a reliable source for my Captain’s Report and he was someone who shared my passion for fishing and protecting the local fishery. That passion led both of us into the ongoing fight to protect water quality and the habitat that safeguards that resource. Everyone who enjoys a day on the water owes Captain Zach a debt of gratitude for his service that inspired me and many other local environmentalists…