The video only lasts 13 seconds, but what happens in it will provide a lifetime of memories for young Dawson Gage.
The 11-year-old boy from Campbell River was out with his father on a fishing charter last month in Nootka Sound, on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
The group spotted the whale in the distance and watched it for a while before it made its on-screen debut.
"He was just spewing water out of his spout and then he went down for like a couple minutes, and then he came up," said Gage.
The massive mammal breached high out of the water just as the boy turned to flash a smile for the camera, resulting in a perfectly timed image that is now making the rounds on social media.
Gage says the humpback continued to jump around the vessel for around 20 minutes before moving away.
The footage has been picked up by news agencies like the UK Daily Mail and the calls keep on coming for the family.
"There's been news agencies from other parts of the world that have taken interest in this video clip as well, so it's kind of neat," said Gage's father, Brian, who also owns his own wildlife viewing company.
"I thought it was really cool," said the youngster, adding that he'll probably put the photo up on his wall at home.
The father and son say they can't wait to get out on the water again, where they hope to enjoy a similar encounter one day.
