I'll go against the grain and suggest a canoe. I've fished from SINK (too confining and very little room) and SOT kayaks (heavy and slower than a herd of turtles in peanut butter). In most cases a canoe is a far better fishing machine. Being able to sit, kneel, stand up and and carry way more gear and have it readily accessible are all huge advantages. It's also easy to add a trolling motor and easier to carry, especially vs a SOT. The only advantage I've seen in a kayak is that it's not as susceptible to wind, which would probably not be a huge issue on a NJ rivers and smaller ponds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kal03UaftTI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsPLpOHgCoU
