Eric Z

Born and raised on the coast of Orange County, Eric Z has been immersed in the fishing industry since childhood. At just six years old, he got his start working on sportfishing boats, and when he wasn’t on the water, he spent his summers helping out at a local fish market right across from his grandma’s house.

After high school, Eric took on a full-time role at the market while working through school. It was there that he saw firsthand how imported seafood dominated the shelves, often at the expense of fresher, locally caught options. Frustrated by the demand for low-quality imports, he made the jump into commercial fishing, balancing his time between the docks and the fish counter.

Now, as the captain of F/V Ike Jime, Eric is dedicated to bringing high-quality, local seafood straight from California waters to chefs, restaurants, and consumers who care about sourcing transparency and sustainability.