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Giant marlin, sailfish beyond number, high-jumping tarpon, record class snook and a dozen or more hard hitting fresh water species . . . Costa Rica has them all!

World Class Marlin often approach record breakers.

Fishing just doesn't get any better than you will find in friendly, peaceful Costa Rica, and because this is a small nation, it's possible to enjoy it all on a single visit perhaps with a day of white water rafting and a volcano and rain forest tour thrown in.

On Pacific, it's common to release a dozen or more sails and even a marlin or two in a single day, and not unusual to release more than 30 sailfish a day. There are also dolphin (including long standing International Game Fish Association's all tackle record 86 pounder), giant yellowfish tuna, wahoo, cubera, roosterfish, a variety of snapper, grouper, blue runners, rainbow runners, snook and much more. And Costa Rica boat operators release all billfish that are not record contenders, so future of resource is assured.

The all-time tournament record of 1,691 billfish releases by 120 anglers in four days was established in Costa Rica a few years ago during International Sailfish Tournament. And all were caught on 20-pound test line. At last count, there were more than 70 current IGFA world record fish from Costa Rica waters, including 17 all tackle trophies.

There's not been a year in recent memory without three or more Super Grand Slams reported on local charter boats, with sailfish, blue, black and striped marlin released on same day. Grand Slams, with three of four billfish species released same day, are routine during peak season.

If hanging a giant billfish on a fly rod is more to your taste, a number of charter operators specialize in big game fly-fishing. The first Pacific blue marlin ever caught on a fly was taken in Costa Rica, along with eight other marlin and sailfish tippet-class IGFA records. The Annual Billy Pate International Sailfish Fly-Fishing Tournament consistently posts highest catch and release record of any similar tournament in world.

The Caribbean coast offers an entirely different type of fishing, with fine lodges and even luxury houseboat accommodating anglers and nature lovers in pursuit of tarpon, snook and other species for many fishermen, there's simply no bigger thrill in world than having one of these 80- to 100-pound aerial acrobats smash a lure and immediately become airborne, often soaring 12 feet or more out of water, twisting and turning, only to land and leap again, time after time. Most operators on Caribbean have put in bigger and faster boats in recent years and are now able to get out from river mouths more frequently when surf is up and where tarpon often spread for acres just offshore. When they are schooled it's not unusual to jump three or more of Silver Kings on a single cast, as one fish throws lure and another picks it up moment it hits water.

The larger boats are also able to make longer run to less frequently fished San Juan River where it forms border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. With miles of lagoons and tiny lakes tucked into jungle, it has been virtually untouched by fishermen for nearly two decades and represents a new horizon for anglers based in Costa Rica, an easy run by boat from Barra.

The 23- to 25-foot boats now available provide still another option. Tarpon fishermen on outside have found barracuda, jacks, kingfish, sierra, tripletail, cubera, grouper, jewfish, and other gamesters just outside river mouths, but with better equipment and some intensive training of guides, fishermen on northern Caribbean today regularly catch all of above along with Atlantic, sailfish, dorado, wahoo, tuna to over 100 pounds and even an occasional Atlantic blue marlin. Costa Rica has long been known for best snook action in world; with bigger fish most often caught fishing from shore near river mouths.

The all-tackle 53 pound, 10 oz. IGFA snook record was caught at mouth of Parismina River and has been in books since 1978.

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So what kind of ride do you guys want?" Howie inquired over his shoulder over rush of air. "We can do a roller-coaster type ride or we can just cruise around. It's completely up to you. We cater to whatever type of flight you want."

Howie's question interrupted me from my daydreaming out canopy window, where my thousand-mile gaze had yet to fall on anything. I shrugged at my buddy next to me. "Hey, show me what you can do. This is your show." When we had reached appropriate altitude, Howie informed me to release tow cable. I pulled lever and with a ka-chunk, we were free from our propeller escort. Howie abruptly plunged into a nose dive, banked hard to right, buzzed nearby mountain top, pulled up, then leveled off, allowing my internal organs to re-establish themselves in their original positions. Me and my big mouth.

If you've never experienced thrill of soaring, get up there. I was fortunate to experience it through an invitation from Bret Willat, sky sailor extraordinaire, at his family-owned and operated soaring center, Sky Sailing (www.skysailing.com).

Known as one of top soaring centers in United States, Sky Sailing is located at Warner Springs Airport, in Warner Springs, California. It has been owned and operated by Bret and his family (including wife Karen, Shane, Garret and Boyd) since 1979. For past 22 years, Bret has showcased his passion for soaring, and his reputation as one of top sailplane performers in country has landed him in a number of television appearances, including Evening Magazine, 3-2-1 Contact and Hour Magazine. Bret was even featured in an ad for VISA which has been run in a number of national publications. His enthusiasm for flight is matched only by his enthusiasm to promote thrill of soaring. He has flown in over 175 events with one purpose in mind: "To show pure grace and beauty of sailplane." On my day in Warner Springs, I discovered what it is all about.

Also known as sky sailing, soaring is more than 100 years old. Wilbur and Orville Wright, pioneers of powered flight, designed, built and flew gliders to gain flight experience that would eventually be used in historic Kittyhawk sorties. After WWI, Germany made huge advances in glider technology, as it was restricted to non-powered aircraft. Today, all test pilots in Armed Forces are required to be competent in sailplanes. One of most famous gliders, in fact, is owned by NASA and frequently launched into space. What is it? The Space Shuttle.

Soaring is not reserved for aces and pioneers, however. There are more than 30,000 licensed pilots in United States and more than 150,000 worldwide. Some fly competitively, but most are drawn to freedom and relaxation and soaring offers. There are no engine vibrations, no infants crying in seat next to you, no packaged peanuts. You strap into your seat and slingshot into Zen tranquility on a smooth cushion of air. It comes as no surprise that everyone I met at Sky Sailing had a relaxed, almost detached air to them, as if their Earth-bound duties were merely an intermission from their real calling.