Relaxing is always good. As is downtime. It's just that my downtime these days consists more of my wife and three kids, plus extended family. These days hobbies are more things that are spent together. I still get some fun things in but doing kiddie science projects with my daughter takes precedence.
Fishing is fairly simple once you've got the equipment. And we're right next to one of the most beautiful piers in the world, in my opinion. It should be pretty easy to get you started.
I think my favorite is One Door Away From Heaven, but Odd Thomas is such a good story with a twist you should probably have seen coming but you're so wrapped up in the main plot that it hits you like a brick. Also Lightning, that's the one that got me hooked.