There is a little sponge like thing called a 'scumbug'. http://www.rola-chem.com/scumbug.html
drop on in your skimmer and it collects all that stuff. Once it gets dirty just turn it over and when the other side gets dirty rinse it out and it's good to go again. They last about a season and also work really good just floating in hot tubs also. Been using them for many years now starting with my old portable hot tub (before I even had a pool) and now have one in my skimmer basket along with a skimmer sock. They only cost about 6 bucks and really absorb all the stuff that just seems to sit on the surface of the water before it collects on the tile line or around the skimmer!