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| Welcome to Daphne.... |
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Welcome
to Daphne, the "Jubilee City," a community
rich with heritage, pride, nature, small town neighborhoods,
hometown spirit, progress, and of course . . the only
place in this part of the world that has the adventure
of a JUBILEE!
Daphne
is one of the fastest growing areas in the nation. Daphne
is located in Baldwin County, Alabama on the eastern
shoreline of Mobile Bay just off I-10: 11 miles east
of Mobile, 45 miles west of Pensacola, Florida and 150
miles southwest of Montgomery, the State Capital.
Below are arial shots taken of
Daphne High School with the landmarked water tower
 
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| Daphne - Home of the Jubilee |
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"Jubilee"
- generally considered a time of great rejoicing - holds
a special meaning around Mobile Bay on the Eastern Shore.
To folks around Daphne and the rest of the Eastern Shore,
it means a "phenomenon" which brings blue
crabs, shrimp, and fish swimming from the depths of
the bay into the shallow waters of the shoreline. Generally,
the bottom fish, such as flounders, catfish, and stingrays,
are the most affected. Crabs are almost always a part
of the event.
 
The
phenomenon in Mobile Bay has been studied very little.
However, scientific evidence and local "folklore"
observed that Jubilees occur only in summer months,
usually in the early dawn hours before sunrise. The
bay is usually calm or slick on the previous day and
during the Jubilee. The wind is usually gentle and
from an easterly direction on the day before and during
the Jubilee; a change in wind direction will stop
a Jubilee. There is usually a rising tide during a
Jubilee; a change to a falling tide will stop a Jubilee.
The sky on the previous day may be cloudy and overcast.
The theory is that each year tons of leaves, plants
and wood debris are brought into Mobile Bay by waters
from the Blakeley, Apalachee, Tensaw & Mobile
Rivers. This material settles to the bottom of the
bay and decays.
During
summertime, decomposition is accelerated and the oxygen
supply is rapidly depleted from the layer of salty
water along the bottom of the bay. This loss of oxygen
occurs generally when the waters are calm and the
east wind blows oxygen bearing surface waters away
from the eastern shoreline of the bay. When this occurs
the tide moves in and brings saltier bottom waters
which are devoid of oxygen near the shoreline.
Meanwhile,
locals make ready lanterns, giggs, scoop nets, buckets,
baskets, tubs, canvas sacks, or whatever it takes
to harvest the anticipated bounty of seafood. As the
tide comes in, the bottom dwelling fish, shrimp, and
crabs are forced to move into the shoreline and are
eventually trapped in shallow water at the beach where
the locals are waiting to shout "Jubilee!"
The waters come alive with a variety of seafood that
can be scooped up by the tubfulls to be frozen and
enjoyed all year long. As dawn comes and the sun rises,
those fish not caught, revive with oxygen to swim
to safety once again in the beautiful bay. For those
who may disbelieve . . . this is most definitely not
just another "Fish Tale!"
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