SARASOTA, Fla. ( WWSB ) - After devastating hurricanes rocked the Venice Fishing Pier in 2023 and 2024, the pier fully reopened to the public Sept. 29.

Locals at the nearby bait shop and Sharky’s On The Pier Restaurant said they had never seen damage quite as bad as they witnessed in 2024.

“I’ve never seen it like that -- it was totally destroyed,” Bob Fiorini, a bait shop worker said.

The total cost for the reconstruction was more than $400,000. Tampa Bay Marine Inc. was the contractor, leaving in place primary structure components, things like beams, piles and pile caps.

“I would say it’s as strong right now as it was before if not stronger now because it’s newer,” fisherman Tom Jack said. “This is the best pier that they’ve built and I’ve been on three of them.”

The pier is getti

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