Filter by night fishing, species, size and more. Full rules and access notes for every public venue.
Located in Central Otago's Hawks Burn system, this South Branch river offers public access via an unformed legal road, making it a worthwhile addition to any local angler's rotation. The trout fishing here runs from October through April, with a daily bag limit of 2 fish—keep your expectations realistic but your technique sharp, as fly, spin, and bait presentations all have their place. The combination of accessible entry points and solid trout populations makes this a practical choice for anglers working the region.
Hawks Burn South Branch holds trout, from the official 2026-27 Fish & Game Anglers Notice for this water — check the individual venue for the exact open season and bag limit before fishing.
Season: 1 Oct – 30 Apr
Night-fishing, boat and camping rules for this water are set by the local region fishing association. Confirm them before your trip.
Fish & Game licence — required for every angler, covers all 12 Fish & Game regions on one season or short-term licence. Taupō is managed separately by DOC.
Open season, authorised methods and daily bag limit for this specific water are set out above, from the official 2026-27 Anglers Notice.
There is no national night-fishing clock rule — hours are set per water. Whether you can camp or bivvy nearby depends on land ownership and public-access status, not the fishing regulations - check this water's confirmed access status above.
Join to unlock full rules, access notes and venue details for Hawks Burn South Branch and every venue in Otago Region.
New Zealand has no land border or ferry crossing from the UK or Europe — most overseas anglers fly directly into Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch and hire a car on arrival to reach Otago Region.
Every angler needs a Fish & Game licence, covering all 12 Fish & Game regions on one season or short-term licence (Taupō is separate, managed by DOC).
New Zealand has a continental climate. On the reservoirs and ponds — Nové Mlýny, Rozkoš, Lipno, Orlík, Slapy, the Třeboň ponds — spring and early summer fish well for carp, tench and bream once the water warms. Predatory species (pike, pikeperch, perch, wels catfish, asp) are closed 1 January to 15 June on non-trout water, so the predator season really opens on 16 June and runs strong through autumn.
Open season for this water is shown above from the 2026-27 Anglers Notice. Where no specific row applies, each region's own default season/bag-limit applies instead.