Fishing was practised not only on the sea but also in water streams. The fishermen worked for landowners who leased land from the Cistercians. However, after the village was burned down by the Russians in the 18th Century and rebuilt by the Cistercian Abbot, they were governed by the monastery. Abbot Jacek Rybiński established the rights and duties of the fishermen. Each of them had to work for 60 days, deliver the monastery’s letters, guard the monastery, participate in hunting trips, give back specific types of fish…. Despite the growing list of duties the number of fishermen families grew. After the monastery’s property was taken over by the Prussians the number of fishermen diminished but then grew again. Initially the fishing village initially was located in the area of today’s Monte Cassino Street.
As the resort developed the fishermen had to give space to the resort;s patients. They moved towards Karlików, where a fishing village was built in the early 20 Century. Only a small part of the fishing developments survived to this day, together with a small fishing harbour. The fishing equipment used earlier and also now, and cutters and fishing boats can be seen on the beach. The fishermen of Sopot sell fresh and smoked fish. There is a shrine located at the harbour “For safe return” with Christ looking at the fishermen coming back. The shrine is a vote of thanks for the visit of John Paul II to Sopot.