You can't miss the iconic Venice Fishing Pier when you dine at Sharky's on the Pier. Why? The Venice, FL waterfront dining destination is located right at its base! You can take a sunny stroll and bask in the gorgeous Gulf breeze, bait a hook and cast a line or soak in a spectacular sunset with the Pier silhouetted against a colorful sky. Whichever you choose, the Venice Fishing Pier is a must-experience Southwest Florida locale.

Besides during inclement weather, the Venice Fishing Pier is open 24/7. The massive structure is a whopping 720 feet long, 22 feet wide and 20 feet high. First constructed in 1966 for just over $133,000, it was destroyed in July of 1981's "No Name Storm." The Pier was rebuilt in 1984, and its restoration - which included raising the Pier to 20 feet to avoid most storm surges - was finished in 2004, a $1.75 million investment.

When Hurricane Irma roared across the Suncoast in September of 2017, the Venice Fishing Pier was again heavily damaged by the Category 2 storm's strong winds. Its latest renovation occurred in the fall of 2019, which repaired Irma's destruction, upgraded materials, installed lights under handrails and built fish-cleaning stations and benches.

The Venice Fishing Pier is lit up all night long for after-hours fisherman. The light poles are sea turtle-friendly and include shields. This allows the Pier to stay bright from May through October, which is sea turtle nesting season.

Fisherman flock to the Pier for some of the best fishing on the Gulf Coast. Better yet - it's free to fish! No fishing license is required, as the City of Venice foots the bill to take care of everyone who wants to fish. You can land grouper, snapper and redfish year-round. Other seasonal finds include cobia, kingfish, amberjack, Spanish mackerel and tarpon. Shark fishing has been banned at the Venice Fishing Pier since November of 2019.

If you don't have your own fishing rod or need to stock up on bait, Papa's Bait Shop has everything you need for a fantastic day on the Pier. Operated by Sharky's, the shop is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., weather-permitting. Rent a rod for $15 per day, purchase live or frozen bait, fuel up on snacks to stay sharp or snag some of your favorite Sharky's apparel.

Not in the mood to fish? You can also rent a Florida Snow Shovel at Papa's Bait Shop and sift through the sand to hunt for shark's tooth treasure. After all, Venice is the Shark's Tooth Capital of the World! Make sure to stop by Sharky's for a bite to eat, tropical cocktails and live entertainment for the full ex-PIER-ience.

Sharky’s on the Pier specializes in local seafood and homemade desserts along with tropical drinks and fantastic frozens served at the Tiki bar overlooking the Venice Fishing Pier. This fun, family-friendly and festive atmosphere offers some of the best Gulf and sunset views on the Southwest Florida coastline. Sharky’s is located at 1600 Harbor Drive S., Venice, FL 941-488-1456, www.SharkysOnThePier.com.

Say hello to Sharky’s newest famous frozen drink addition, the Saharan Sunset!

Sip on this truly tropical half-and-half blend of our classic Pina Colada and fruity Mango Bango while you soak in a spectacular sunset on our Upper Deck at Sharky's. Sounds like the perfect way to spend the evening! 

Visit Florida's three-time Best Beach Bar and try one out today.

Venice Pier Group restaurants reaffirm their promise to uphold the highest health, safety and sanitation standards.

Venice Pier Group, which operates waterfront dining destinations Sharky’s on the Pier, Fins at Sharky’s and Snook Haven in Venice, Fla., has been awarded the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) Seal of Commitment, a respected health, safety and sanitation honor.

The Seal of Commitment is the FRLA’s highest designation for hospitality safety and sanitation standards. Bearing this seal is Sharky’s, Fins and Snook Haven’s pledge to their employees, guests and community that each restaurant meets and exceeds the FRLA’s designated health, safety and sanitation standards. Less than 70 restaurants in the state of Florida have received this recognition, and the Venice Pier Group restaurants are the first to receive this honor in Venice.

Venice Pier Group’s goal in achieving this seal is to ensure that, upon walking through each restaurant’s doors, guests have the utmost confidence that the establishment is safe, sanitized, and that its employees are well-trained to uphold these standards in a post-COVID-19 atmosphere.

“We have always believed safety and sanitation within Venice Pier Group to be a top priority and have held our standards well above the requirements of the industry,” said Justin Pachota, President of Venice Pier Group. “This is just another way for the public to know that where they are eating has been certified as the highest level of cleanliness.”

The FRLA Seal of Commitment achievement comes on the heels of the Venice Pier Group restaurants being recognized as the Venice Area Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year in the Hospitality and Tourism category.

To qualify for the Seal of Commitment, Sharky’s, Fins and Snook Haven each underwent a thorough site inspection and had to meet designated restaurant health, safety and sanitation standards. Additionally, Venice Pier Group had to meet specific employee certification criteria, meaning that each employee holds a current food handler certificate and all managers have a current food manager certificate. Furthermore, all 265 Venice Pier Group employees attended and completed an FRLA COVID-19 Safety and Sanitation Course.

“The training provided not only focuses on the importance of safety and sanitation but also on how to create a great experience for our guests while managing those priorities,” Pachota said. “It reminds all of us our every action towards each individual can impact the guest and each other.”

The Seal of Commitment reaffirms the elevated health and safety initiatives Venice Pier Group set in place since reopening for dine-in services in May. The group’s standard operating procedures are of the highest level of safety and sanitation and include the following measures: screening employees and performing temperature checks daily, requiring all employees to wear face masks, highly encouraging guests to wear face masks while moving about the restaurant, providing single-use menus and digital access to menus via QR code, sanitizing common-touch surfaces between guests and nightly using hospital-grade disinfectant, sanitizing and replacing all condiments, salt & pepper shakers and other tableside accessories between guests, and adhering to all social distancing guidelines by spacing indoor and outdoor tables at least six feet apart, limiting bar seating capacity and installing barriers between booths.

Sharky’s on the Pier, located at 1600 Harbor Drive South, is open Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Live entertainment plays at Sharky’s on Thursday through Sunday evenings, weather-permitting. Fins at Sharky’s, located at 1600 Harbor Drive South, is open daily from 12 to 10 p.m. and hosts a daily happy hour, Fins Frenzy, from 4 to 6 p.m. Snook Haven, located at 5000 E. Venice Avenue, is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Canoe and kayak rentals are available Wednesday through Sunday at Snook Haven from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.