It is almost universally acknowledged that the Little Mud River section of the AICW, some 21 statute miles north of Brunswick, Georgia, is the single worst stretch of the “ditch” between Norfolk, VA and Miami, Florida. Well, Captains Chuck and Susan’s observations below certainly tend to bear out that theory.
As you may recall from other recent postings here on the Net, Captain Chuck Baier and Captain Susan Landry are the former general manager and editor, respectively, of Waterway Guide. They are now cruising south on the AICW on their way to a new home in Fort Myers, Florida. Chuck and Susan are being kind enough to forward very detailed reports to the Cruisers’ Net about concerns they encounter, particularly AICW Problem Stretches.
With this dynamic duo’s vast cruising experience, we can take their observations below as gospel. And, as you will see, just give up on the idea of traversing Little Mud River at anything but high tide.

Claiborne,
We transited the Little Mud River on Tuesday 5/17/2011 and we thought your readers would be interested in what we found. I hope they also appreciate us transiting all of the problem areas on the ICW at or near low tide so we could get accurate depth readings. We transited the Little Mud at 2 hours before low tide. Based on this the following depths would be at low tide. At Red “192” depth of 5 feet. At Crooked Creek, depth of 4 1/2 feet. Approaching Green “193” 4 feet, then 3 feet very near “193”. Just past Green “193” 3 1/2 feet. At Red “194” 3 1/2 feet and just past Red “194” 3 feet. From Red “194” to the turn onto the Altamaha is all about 4 feet. Fortunately there were no other fools except us transiting at this low of a tide. We hope this will help others STAY AWAY at anything less than 2 to 3 extra feet of tides. We will send more as we find it.
Chuck and Susan

We have transited this area with our Tayana 37, `Dream Seeker’, twice and had no problems. Of course it was at 1/2 tide rising through 1/2 tide falling. With the tidal range in GA you can carry 6′ but you have to know your onions as they say.
Kevin McPadden

We transited the Little Mud River on May 4, 2011 about 1/2 hour before low, northbound. The mud banks extending into the river were visible on both sides. While we didn’t risk going aground to sound each marker, we stayed in the middle between the visable mud sides. We draw four feet and were obviously dragging through the mud a couple of times based on how the steering responded. Otherwise we saw no less than 4.5 feet and generally 5 feet plus on the sounder.
Again, this was in mid-visible water, not necessasarily mid channel, although our course always honored the daymarks. The depths reported by the sounder might not have been accurate because of the soupy mud bottom.
Bob McLeran and Judy Young

I really appreciate all the info on the ICW. I will be making the trip to Tampa next week from Washington DC. Thanks again.
Safe Seas,
Captain Lisa Alexander

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Little Mud River

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch

Again, Captain Bob takes this trouble spot within less than two hours of high tide and offers some advice to his fellow cruisers.
Please note that the Little Mud River section of the AICW, is the WORST problem stretch of the entire run from Norfolk to Miami. Trying to interpolate the tidal tables, it looks as if we must subtract 6 to 7 feet from the soundings below to discover what depths would be at MLW. That means we could easily be looking at a mere 3 feet of water near markers #190 and #195.
TIME YOUR PASSAGE THROUGH LITTLE MUD RIVER FOR HIGH TIDE ONLY!!!!!!

10-29-10 Little Mud River (A Walk in the Park) Anchored in Duplin River night before, Great Anchorage
Short Distance to Little Mud River. High Tide was 1200 Noon. Arrive Little Mud River 1-1/2 Hours before HIGH TIDE.
Marker R190 10 Ft,
Marker G195 10 Ft.
Exit Mud River @ 1247 PM.
Draft Five Ft we had five under the keel Minimum all the way. Good Run.
Instead of folks posting horror stories they need to take life easy and do these areas of concern two hours before high tide.
Captains Bob and Helen
aboard M/Y ALLEZ

We just passed the Little Mud River. We hit it at exactly low tide. Uh oh. We made it through OK however. The minimum depth I saw was 6.5 feet near marker 194. We met a tug going north. He said that he didn’t have a depth sounder, but that he draws 8 feet and he made it through fine, also at low tide. Go figure.
Captains Dick and Libby Mills

Good evening all, went through today 11/2/10 at 2:00 PM local, just about low tide & only saw 6.9 ft, just stay in the MIDDLE & you will be fine! Winds today were between twenty to thirty & did not seem to affect the depths.
Captains Mike & Barbara aboard M/V Elan
2011/03/09
We did basically the same thing that Captains Bob and Helen did, anchoring in Duplin river the night before passage through the Little Mud River section. We hit it at about an hour before high tide and had a trouble free passage. (s/v MarLyn, S2 30ft, 5ft draft)
Skipper Mark

Transited Little Mud River 3/27/11 at half tide. 8-9 ft through mid channel.
Skipper Stephen

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For Little Mud River

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To The AICW Problem Stretch

With a tidal range in this area of almost 8 feet, using Capt. Poovey’s observations, MLW would be less than 3 feet at green marker #195, confirming earlier reports of depths at or near three feet at low tide through this stretch.

Subject: Little Mud River
Welcome to Georgia where the people are nice and the water on the ICW is shallow!
Traveled through this area heading south Tuesday, Oct. 26. Noted lower panel (Red Panel/White Stripe) on range marker was missing adjacent to channel marker Green “185.”
Also noted that channel marker Red “188” was missing. As to depths these observations were made starting at 11:39 AM at marker Red “190” and ending at 12:02 AM at Green “195.” (35 to 55 minutes past high tide), mid channel.
Red “190”- 19.5 ft.
100 yards south of Red “195”- 13.6 ft.
Red “192”- 15.2 ft.
Halfway between Red “192” and Green “193”- 13.0 ft.
Green “193”- 12.0 ft.
Red “194”- 12.0 ft.
Halfway between Red “194” and Green “195”- 11.3 ft.
200 yds. north of Green “195”- 10.7 ft.
Green “195”- 13.9 ft.

Click Here To Open A Chart View Windows Zoomed to the Location of This AICW Problem Stretch”