Over the past few seasons every so often I've caught a few bass with this style of lip where it looks damaged on the side like pic below, I always assumed that it was from being caught before but does a lip scar like this heal? Or will there always be deformed like that? 

It will heal.  Believe me, I have seen smallmouth with 50% of their bottom jaw ripped off and healed up and some with their mouth like hamburger from being yanked off the bed time after time.  

That's why I always try to hook my fish in the roof of the mouth ??

Heal yes. Missing piece of mouth grow back to normal, no.

 

I've caught them where it looks like their jaw is dislocated(?). Looks like a piece is on the outside instead of the inside. Saw one with the right side of its mouth gone. That ain't healing well.

 

Roof of the mouth is good, unless the hook comes out through their eye. Did that recenly.

 

We're terrorizing fish for fun and ripping em out of the water by their face. Stuff's gonna happen.

I catch them all the time with holes and rips around the mouth.  Years ago I caught one with the lower gill plate completely detached from the lower jaw.  These creatures are tougher then many give them credit for.  They live in a violent world and would not be here today if they died off easily.  They take a licking, and keep on ticking!?  You have to be a certain age to get that!

That's barely noticeable compared to a lot of them that I see during the spring and early summer here. I feel bad  about catching some of them they look like they've been caught so many times. 

On 5/29/2021 at 7:45 PM, schplurg said:

Heal yes. Missing piece of mouth grow back to normal, no.

 

I've caught them where it looks like their jaw is dislocated(?). Looks like a piece is on the outside instead of the inside. Saw one with the right side of its mouth gone. That ain't healing well.

 

Roof of the mouth is good, unless the hook comes out through their eye. Did that recenly.

 

We're terrorizing fish for fun and ripping em out of the water by their face. Stuff's gonna happen.

Hilarious comment and very true!!

On 5/29/2021 at 9:22 PM, geo g said:

They take a licking, and keep on ticking!?  You have to be a certain age to get that!

Hahaha good one