Venice Got a New Beach This Summer. What Does That Mean for Shark Tooth Hunting?
October 15, 2026
October 15, 2026
"There are fewer shark teeth because we put 200 feet of sand where there was none before." Venice's mayor said that in 2005, in a Herald-Tribune report published as the city got ready for its second beach restoration project. He followed it with a line that still holds up: "You still find them on the beach. You just don't find them in such high numbers."
Twenty-one years on, Venice has done it again, on a larger scale. Dredging and sand placement for the Venice Shore Protection Project ended on Aug. 16, 2026. The contractor, Weeks Marine, says it placed nearly 620,000 cubic yards of sand. The city says the project restores beach width lost since the 2015 nourishment. That same sand is now sitting on top of the layer that made Venice the "Shark Tooth Capital of the World," so for the next while, the best hunting is likely to be at the edges of the project.
The project covered about 3.2 miles of shoreline, from south of Venice Inlet to south of the Venice Fishing Pier. According to the city, that includes every beach between the Humphris Park South Jetty and South Brohard Park, with Venice Beach and Service Club Park in between. The sand came from an offshore borrow area about 11 nautical miles southwest of the project site, off Englewood.
That sand was picked to look right. WGCU's reporting, republished by DredgeWire, says the project ran a year late because the Army Corps couldn't find smooth, quartz-based sand in a white that matched what was already on the beach. That's good news for anyone who cares how the beach looks. It doesn't say anything about teeth. Neither the city nor WGCU has said whether the new fill carries fossils. Past projects are the only guide. The 2005 Herald-Tribune piece quoted a veteran local hunter saying the fill from the first restoration "did have some shark teeth . . . but nothing particularly great," and that the original tooth-bearing beach was already buried too deep.
Nobody has published tooth counts since the 2026 project. What's known for sure is the map. Here's how the shoreline breaks down this fall:
| Stretch | Inside the 2026 project? | Fall 2026 status |
|---|---|---|
| Humphris Park South Jetty to Venice Beach | Yes | Sand placement finished in the northern segments by July 22 |
| Venice Beach to the Fishing Pier | Yes | Outfall 1 at Venice Beach and Outfall 2 at Venice Sands Condo were expected to finish by mid-October |
| South of the pier through Brohard Park | Yes | Rock remediation and sand tilling expected to finish by late October |
| Caspersen Beach | No | Open on foot and by bike only, with no vehicle parking |
The far south end, closest to Caspersen, still has active work. According to the city's project log, rock remediation started on Aug. 25 south of the Fishing Pier. The city hasn't said what the rocks are or why they need work. WGCU's August report described the Brohard Paw Park closure as happening while "some rocks are placed and piping is buried." If you walk south of the pier in the next few weeks, plan on heavy equipment near the waterline.
Brohard Paw Park's beach access has been the most on-and-off spot of the whole project. Sarasota County closed the beach portion in August while construction ran nearby. Its most recent update, dated Oct. 6, set a one-day closure for Oct. 7 while Weeks Marine tilled sand in the area. The city's Sept. 30 update said the park would close temporarily whenever tilling ran nearby, with dates not known in advance, so check the city's renourishment page before you load up the dog and the sifter.
You can also blame part of the wait on the turtles. Pipes near active nests had to stay put until the nests hatched, and the Sept. 30 update says those nests have now hatched, so the last pipes can come out. WGCU reported that Mote Marine moved more than 500 sea turtle nests during the project, which the city's engineer said "greatly exceeded what Mote was anticipating."
Caspersen Beach lies south of the project area, so this summer's sand didn't touch it. That makes it the natural pick for anyone who wants the old beach. Visit Sarasota's April 2026 shark tooth guide still lists Caspersen as a hunting spot, along with Casey Key and Manasota Key.
Getting there takes some effort. Sarasota County's park listing says the Harbor Drive access washed out during the 2024 storm season. The restrooms, vehicle parking and playground are closed until repairs are made. The park is open to people on foot or on bikes, coming from one of two places:
The county's listing gives no repair or reopening date for Harbor Drive. Park hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. There are no restrooms or water at Caspersen, so use the facilities at South Brohard before you head south.
The new parks deal changes nothing on this stretch. An interlocal agreement between the City of Venice and Sarasota County took effect on Oct. 1. Under it, the county keeps running Brohard Park, including Brohard Paw Park, South Brohard Park and Service Club Park. The city takes back neighborhood parks like Hecksher Park and the Venice Community Center, while Venice Beach and the beachfront parks stay with the county.
Venice has a few ways to hunt that don't depend on a shoreline the Army Corps just covered.
Downtown, for gear and a reference shelf. Earth Treasures and the Venice Fossil Museum have just moved to 235 Miami Ave. W., still on Miami Avenue. The Visit Venice announcement lists shark teeth, fossils, minerals and the beach-sifting tools you need for the hunt. It also notes that the museum's fossil displays are inside the shop. If your sifter has been in the garage since spring, start here.
A guided morning from South Brohard. Venice Suncoast Tours runs a 3.5-hour "Sharks Teeth & More Family Adventure" that starts at South Brohard Park Beach. Equipment and lunch are included, and you get a chance to turn your finds into keepsakes. South Brohard is also the walk-in point for Caspersen, which makes it a good choice when family or friends are visiting.
Offshore, where no new sand went. Certified divers can join Fossil Junkies for three-tank fossil dives off Venice. Boats carry no more than six divers, and the operator's site lists the price at $225 per person. The 2005 Herald-Tribune account explains the appeal. Earlier restorations pumped sand onto the beach and about 100 feet out into the Gulf, burying the shallow layer where people had been finding teeth.
At the waterline, the old way. Visit Sarasota's guide describes the standard method of sifting sand and shell right at the water's edge. The family in that 2005 story found 20 teeth, each about half an inch long, in two hours of sifting a beach that had already been renourished once.
The 2026 Venice Sharks Tooth Festival was held at Centennial Park, 200 West Venice Avenue, according to WWSB. The festival's site has announced April 10–11, 2027, for next year's event but hasn't named a venue yet. The city expects rock remediation and sand tilling across the project area to finish by late October, months before festival weekend.
Watching how one summer of dredging changes a stretch of shoreline is part of knowing Venice well. When you want to talk through how projects like this affect the coastline you live on, from South Brohard to the jetty, Chris Carpenter is glad to share what he's seeing. Let's Connect.
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