diff --git a/tests/world_time_validation.gd b/tests/world_time_validation.gd
index a8f4106..b0b36a1 100644
--- a/tests/world_time_validation.gd
+++ b/tests/world_time_validation.gd
@@ -368,6 +368,10 @@ func _validate_environment_presentation() -> void:
 	assert("weather_fog_near_amount" in water_shader.code)
 	assert("float weather_fog_alpha = mix(" in water_shader.code)
 	assert("ALPHA = clamp(water_alpha, 0.1, weather_fog_alpha)" in water_shader.code)
+	assert(
+		"water_alpha *= mix(0.82, 1.0, contact_stability);"
+		in water_shader.code
+	)
 	assert(is_zero_approx(float(
 		SaltWaterMaterial.get_shader_parameter("weather_fog_amount")
 	)))
diff --git a/world/materials/stylized_water.gdshader b/world/materials/stylized_water.gdshader
index 998fdc3..669f649 100644
--- a/world/materials/stylized_water.gdshader
+++ b/world/materials/stylized_water.gdshader
@@ -515,10 +515,10 @@ void fragment() {
 		water_alpha + shoreline_foam * shoreline_opacity_boost,
 		0.98
 	);
-	// The authored water-body height is also the casting authority. Fade the
-	// visual layer completely at exact terrain contact so dry land cannot look
-	// fishable while the stable sub-surface water remains visible.
-	water_alpha *= contact_stability;
+	// Keep the water tint visually continuous across authored terrain contact.
+	// Fully fading here exposes the raised sand edge as a broken tan seam; the
+	// fishing resolver, rather than this presentation shader, owns castability.
+	water_alpha *= mix(0.82, 1.0, contact_stability);
 
 	float surface_mottle = value_noise(
 		world_position.xz * surface_mottle_scale