I’m new to the forum and to Canterbury having just shifted down from the lower North Island, the fishing is slightly different down here with the Eles seeming to be a target species i have not had anything to do with, although I very familar with the good old red cod thought it would good to join a club to meet a few people and learn the area is there any clubs around Rakaia/Ashburton area?
The Ashburton Club & MSA has a fishing section so if you join it allows you to fish all the interclub competitions with the other Christchurch clubs. It’s not very active though with only a few of us turning up at the competitions and nothing else really happening. You could try join one of the clubs in Christchurch they probably do more.