Photo: Venice Aerial Photography

***NOTE: The Pier is closed at this time due to damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton.*** 

The City of Venice Fishing Pier is located at Brohard Park on the south end of the island of Venice. The 700-foot pier is a great location for fishing and to end the day watching a beautiful sunset.

The Pier, owned by the City, is open 24 hours a day/7 days a week, with free admission. No fishing license is required.

In November 2019, the Venice City Council banned the use of gear associated with shark fishing while on the Pier, as well as limiting anglers to only one fishing line in the water at a time. The new ordinance also calls for the posting of markers prohibiting swimming within 150 feet of the Pier, and designates the remainder of Brohard Beach and Venice Beach as swimmer-first locations. It also prohibits bicycling, skating, rollerblading and skateboarding on the Pier.

Papa’s Bait Shop is located midway down the Pier and is open daily, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., weather permitting. Nearby are six picnic shelters, two sand volleyball courts, public restrooms, pavilion, Sharky's restaurant, and golf course.

Dogs, glass containers, tobacco products and tents are prohibited on the Pier.

History

The Pier was originally built in 1966 for $133,877. It was destroyed in July of 1981 by a “No Name Storm."  Rebuilding took place in 1984 with Greenhart lumber from South America, the only place in the world to purchase this wood. It did not have to be treated, nor did it shrink, because it was grown in the swamps. In February 2004, the Pier was totally removed. Its construction cost $1.75 million, and the money was raised by a municipal bond (recreational). In this construction, the decking of the Pier was made of plastic wood fiber composite.

Another rehabilitation of the Pier got underway in May 2019. This $738,769 project included removal and replacement of all the Pier’s deck and railing material with longer-lasting, legally sourced ipe (pronounced “ee-pay”) wood and replacement of pole lighting fixtures with sea turtle-friendly, under-handrail lights. New fish-cleaning stations, benches and trash/recycling receptacles have also been added. The Pier was reopened to the public in August 2019.

The Pier is 720 feet long (219.45 meters), 22 feet wide, and the height is 20 feet (6.096 meters).  Water depth at the end averages 16 ½ feet (5.03 meters).

Restrictions: Click here to view restrictions

Location: 1600 S. Harbor Drive