Government Cut, or Bob Sykes Cut, which is the main entrance to Apalachicola Bay from the Gulf of Mexico for commercial fishermen and shrimpers, has almost fully shoaled-up.  At low tide the channel is currently unnavigable by any boat with a draft of over a foot or so.

If you have intentions of using this cut this summer check the tide charts before attempting to come in or out and be particularly careful just seaward of the two day markers just south of the range markers.  Favor the west side (green) and make sure you have about half a tide and you will be okay with a draft of 5 feet or so.  Try running mid channel at anything less than half tide and you will likely spend a couple of hours on a sand-bar or circling around between some rocks and a hard place waiting for enough water to float your boat over the bar.

At this point I have been able to find nobody willing to say when (or even if) a dredging project is planned but if the cut is going to stay open for any size vessel it needs to be dredged very soon.  I’ll keep asking and let you know if anything changes.