The message below is copied from the AGLCA mail list I concur with the USCG (see below). There are some definite 4-foot MLW soundings IN THE CHANNEL at the Swuannee’s entrance from the Gulf.

I would not recommend entering the Suwannee River. We did it once and ran aground. Another looper ran aground and destroyed his impellers. The entrance is generally about 3 feet with some spots as low as 2.3 feet. See the attachment which USACE says is not to be used for navigation.
_http://pillar.saj.usace.army.mil/Divisions/Operations/Branches/HydroSurvey/survey/06-05
9.pdf_
(http://pillar.saj.usace.army.mil/Divisions/Operations/Branches/HydroSurvey/survey/06-059.pdf)
The ballad of the Suwannee River. The original entrance is marked on the chart as West Pass. Boaters now use a new entrance, known locally as McGriff Pass, and the USACE no longer maintains West Pass. It is now only good for kayaks. It took an Act of Congress, HR1992, to transfer responsibility from West Pass to McGriff Pass formerly known as Wadley Pass. Next followed years of public hearings. The residents of the tranquil village of Suwannee are reluctant to see a concrete jungle like many other parts of Florida. Another group is concerned about damage to fragile sea grass. Friends of sturgeon are worried that dredging will interfere with passage of sturgeon on their way to traditional spawning areas up river, Manatee are on our side. A deeper entrance channel will make it easier for them to migrate upstream each winter. Florida Department of Environmental Protection finally issued a permit in October, 2007. A site has been selected to dispose of the dredged spoil. Plans are now underway to prepare the site prior to actual dredging. Stay tuned!When dredging is complete, the Suwannee River will become the preferred stopover for loopers on the Big Bend. It is exactly halfway between Carrabelle and Tarpon Springs. The river is wide and deep for 20 miles to Manatee Springs State Park. In the meantime, if you want to explore the Suwannee then rent a houseboat from Millers Marina (suwanneehouseboats.com).
Alan Lloyd
Author, Great Loop Navigation Notes
_www.NavigationNotes.com_ (http://www.navigationnotes.com/)

Again, you’ll get differing “opinions” and experiences, but FWIW…
When I was in the planning stages of my ¼ loop (St. Louis to Tarpon), I drove to Coast Guard Station Yankeetown on the Withlacoochee and spoke with the Officer in Charge about the different channels on the Big Bend. (I’m in the CG Aux) He (strongly) recommended avoiding the Suwannee channel(s) altogether and looked at it as best navigated when one has lots of local knowledge. My 23’ boat draws about 3’, much like the 25’ and 27’ patrol boats at Yankeetown, but the Coasties run that AOR (Area of Responsibility) all the time so I thought they were worth listening to. I have property on the Suwannee that I would like to explore by water, but I suppose that means launching my PWC (Sea-Doo) from a local ramp, upriver.
When we made the crossing (June 2008), we had planned to run straight across, but left late from Carrabelle and hit an infamous Florida Summer afternoon thunderstorm. I looked on the GPS and “found” a little-mentioned port and channel – Horseshoe Beach, about 18 miles south of Steinhatchee. Luckily it was at higher tide but I called “anyone familiar with the Horseshoe Beach channel” on the VHF and Sea Tow came back with reassuring advice for running it. There was a marina there – but closed on Sunday, and closing permanently. There is a local diner ½ block from the water with the best shrimp I’ve had in my life (or maybe we were simply hungry). There are no other significant services and the closest town is not close. I only mention Horseshoe because that seems to be where channel navigation becomes dicey when heading south (though I’ve personally never navigated any other Big Bend channel).
CAPT Rick Rhodes, in his book – Cruising Guide to Florida’s Big Bend, has more detailed info on these channels and virtually every channel south of Horseshoe – including private channels. Between his recommendation, a high tide, and VHF calls to Sea Tow or BoatUS, ALL channels seem navigable during the right time of day and/or right time of year. (Gulf waters are departing for the winter…) The U.S. Coast Pilot Vol 5, Chapter 5 also has general information to help you make your decision.
Kitty Nicolai

Yesterday we transited to Suwannee River again arriving two hours before high tide and found plenty of water except perhaps just past the entrance to McGriff Channel (this is the only passable channel) where we had only six feet of water. We came in slow but once past the channel its deep and beautiful. Much of our passage was in heavy fog but we could see the crab pots easily and two other small fishing boats on the radar. Seems like a good place to wait out the storm.
Michael & Jana La Porte
m/v SECOND STAR