Sunfish are pretty much everywhere. Finding ones big enough to make it worth your while is the challenge. The best time to look for them is in the spring.
Any eutrophic body of water should contain plenty of good-sized Bluegills. What part of New Jersey were you looking to fish?
When I have the time to fillet them, I enjoy frying up a plate of sunfish fillets. They have a delicate flavor, somewhat like cod.
